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THE 



CITY. 



I 



!il 




A CONDENSED 

History of Philadelphia, 



AND A COMPLETE 



C3r XJ I 33 E! 

To the City and Exhibition of 1876, 

New York — 1876. 
CHAS. A. COFFIN, 88 JOHN STREET. 



SOUTH-EAST SEOnON. 



flp^jlfeiiili'iJ C^i**i>"»^fls^ IMiilrtdclphiit 




m Pal 

124 TnaiaiaD Coffee and Tenta. 

125 CeDtennial Fire Patrol. 
128 Ohio Bailding. 



"CENTENNIAL CITY." Pul^lished by C. A. Coffin, 88 John St:eet, New York 



THE 



Centennial City : 

PHILADELPHIA. 



ITS HISTORY FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT; 
THE REVOLUTION OF I776 IN CONNECTION; HISTORICAL 
AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF ITS PLACES OF AMUSE- 
MENT, CHURCHES, CHARITABLE AND LITERARY INSTI- 
TUTIONS; COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES; MEN 
AND PLACES OF NOTE; TRAVEL TO AND FRO AND 
IN THE CITY ; FAIRMOUNT PARK ; THE WATER 
WORKS, hotels; centennial BUILDINGS 
AND EXHIBITION, ETC., ETC, ETC., WITH 
A MAP AND NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. 

BEING A COMPLETE 

Guide for Strangers to the City 

AND 

Exhibition of 1876. t 

With an Appendix, 

CONTAINING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AND 

TABLE OF PUBLIC PLACES, RAILROADS, HOTELS, 

FARES, STREETS, ETC. 

NEW YORK : \C^°^ Wa5H>\A<^^' 

Chas. a. Coffin, 88 John Street, 

1876. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by Wili-IAM C. Ulyat, in 
the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



iS<^ 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTKR. PAGE. 

I. Founding of the City, - - - - 9 

II. Its History from 1682, ri's Settlement, 

TO 1776, ---_-- 16 

HI. Philadelphia in 1776, - - - - 24 

IV. Its History during the Revolution, 28 

V. Its History from 1783 to 1876, - - 32 
VI. Government and General Description 

OF THE City, ----- 3^ 

VII, Places of Amusemement and Public In- 
terest, -------37 

. VIII, Churches and Church Institutions, 41 
IX. Schools and Colleges, _ _ - ^5 
X. Hospitals and other Charitable Insti- 
tutions, - - - - - - 50 

XL Mutual Aid Societies and Funds, - 55 

XII. Lawyers and Law Schools, - - - 58 

XIII. Medical Men and Medical Schools, 59 

XIV. Treatment of Criminals, - - - 62 
XV. Books and Libraries, - - - - 64 

XVI. Newspapers and Newspapermen, - 67 
XVII. Societies for Promotion of Useful 

Knowledge, Arts and Sciences, - 69 

XA^III. Commerce of Philadelphia, - - - 71 

XIX. The Manufactures of Philadelphia, 74 

XX. Monied Men and Institutions, - 77 

XXI. The Mint, _ - - - - 82 

XXII. The Navy Yard, .. _ . - 84 

XXHI. Fairmount Park, - - 86 



eOA^ TENTS, 

XXIV. The Water Works, - - - . 92 

XXV. The Fire Department, - - "y - 95 

XXVI. The Military and Defences, - '" ) ^ 96 

XXVII. Laurel Hill and other Cemeteries, 98 

XXVIII. Young Men's Christian Association, - loi 

XXIX. Travel to and from and about the City, 102 

XXX. The Hotels of Philadelphia, - - 106 

XXXI. The Places of Business and Residences, 109 

XXXII. The People of Philadelphia, - - 1 10 

XXXIII. Philadelphia as a place of Residence ' 

and of Business, - - - - 112 

XXXIV. The Centennial Grounds, Buildings and 

Exposition, - - - - - -113 



APPENDIX. 



chapter. page. 

I. Declaration of Independence, - - - 125 
II. Abstract of AVashington's Pakewell 

Address, - - - - - - 131 

III. Hail Columbia, - - - - - - 133 

IV. Heads of Government of L'. S,, Pennsyl- 

vania AND Philadelphia, - - 134 

V. Places of Amusement and General Interest, i 35 

VI. Railroads to and from the City, - - 137 

VII. Horse Cars in the City, - - - 140 

A^III. Hotels in Philadelphia, - - - -143 

IX. Hack Fares, - - - .. - - 145 

X. The Streets^ - - 146 



PREFACE 



/T\ HIS Work is intended to serve as a Guide to the City 
I of Philadelphia, and afford information concerning the 
Exhibition of 1876. But beyond this it is designed to 
be a memorial volume, a popular contribution to a knowledge 
of the history, progress and present state of Philadelphia ; 
and also to supply matters of interest connected with our 
Revolutionary struggle, and the government under which we 
live. It does not pretend, of course, to be anything more 
than an outline. But it presents, it is believed, a fair, and in 
the main, correct outline. The best accessible sources of 
book and pamphlet, of personal knowledge and obser- 
vation, have been used in its compilation. It contains, it is 
hoped, much interesting, valuable and needed information 
for those who may or may not visit Philadelphia during this 
centennnial year or hereafter, for the citizens of Phila- 
delphia, of our country, and of the whole world. 

June 2']t/i, 1876. 



THE 



CENTENNIAL CITY: 

PHILADELPHIA. 



CHAPTER I. 
Founding of the City. 

IN 1682, the site for the City of Philadelphia was chosen, 
and the place in its original limits laid out. The wide 
streets, crossing each other at right angles, forming the 
large squares we now see, were then fixed. The city was 
laid out east and west from the Delaware, so named after 
Lord De la Ware, Governor of Virginia, 1610^18, or from 
the South river, as it was also called to distinguish it from 
the North river in New York — to the Schuylkill. From 
north to south it was laid out from Vine to Cedar streets. 
In the centre of this plot, the junction of Market and Broad 
streets, a square of ten acres was set apart for public purposes 
and called Central Square, where it was designed should be 
erected the Government Buildings, a thing which has not 
been done until our own times. Four other lots of ground, 
of eight acres each, were reserved, which have since become 
known as Washington, Franklin, Logan and Rittenhouse 
Parks. 

According to Proud, an early schoolmaster of Philadelphia, 
and the historian of the early times of Pennsylvania, the site 
where the city now stands was called, before Penn's time, 
Coquanock, a word which denoted it as a place of tall 
pines. The name Philadelphia was given the new city by 



TO THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

the founder before its site was selected. It is the name of 
an ancient city in the Greek Orient, signifying Brotherly 
Love. But this name was not simply transferred by Penn, 
but was adopted to denote his sentiro,ents and feelings, and 
what he designed should be the future character of his city. 

The first inhabitants of Philadelphia set sail from England 
in May, 1681, more than a year before Penn himself sailed. 
They came in three ships. A deputy embarked with them, 
to whom was given a plenary commission to look out a site 
for the contemplated city. This deputy was William Mark- 
ham. At first ten thousand acres, which would make a 
square of twelve miles, was ordained to be the bounds and 
liberties of the city. Of this plot, one hundred acres was to 
be awarded to those who took up five thousand acres in the 
country, and in the same proportion for smaller tracts. The 
houses were to be built in the middle of the lots, that the 
city might be " green and airy." Also, a space was to be 
left open along the river for public use forever. On Penn's 
arrival this plan was revoked or modified. These ambitious 
dimensions originally designed by him have at length been 
reached, but only after ages of civilization have been running 
their course. 

Other sites for a city were looked at. Chester, on the 
river, fourteen miles below, was one of these ; and but for the 
fact that Lord Baltimore was found to claim jurisdiction 
there, this place, which of late years has risen into such 
prominence, would have been settled upon by the original 
Philadelphians, Another place was Byberry, a few miles up 
the Delaware, on the south side of the mouth of Poquonock 
creek, a site which afterwards became known and famous 
as the Bake House where bread for the revolutionary army 
was baked. But both thepe places were yielded up for the 
high and airy ground lying between the Delaware and 
Schuylkill rivers, with their deep waters and near to their 
junction, and about one hundred miles from the ocean -iy 
the course of the river. 



FOUNDING OF THE CITY. II 

When the site of the city was chosen, there was not a 
dwelling or building of any kind within its bounds. It was 
all a wilderness of tall trees, swamps and bushes, where 
abounded deer and wolves and other wild animals, and the 
winged tribes. The first house built, and which was in the 
course of erection when Penn himself landed, was what 
became known as the Blue Anchor Tavern. It was built, 
owned and occupied by one George Guest, and stood at the 
mouth of what was called Dock creek, because there was 
the chief landing place. This creek was arched over and 
filled in in 1784, but its course may be partially traced by 
the winding Dock street, the only irregular street in the 
original city. The next house built, and the first one 
v/hich was erected entire after the city was laid out, stood 
near the northwest corner of Walnut and Second streets. 
It was what became known as the Ed. Drinker House. This 
man was born in 1680 and died 1782, having lived 102 years. 
He owned and occupied this house. Both these old land- 
marks have long since disappeared. The business of the 
city in the beginning clustered about Dock creek and its 
mouth. The stream was wide and deep enough to allow 
large sloops up it for some distance. It followed Fourth 
street, crossed Chestnut and rose as high as Market street. 
There were several bridges over it — six at least. 

The city sent forth to the world liberal inducements to 
settlers, and at once began to grow. Numerous vessels with 
emigrants arrived from England and other countries. Estab- 
lishment soon became assured. 

William Penn, the founder, was an Englishman, born in 
London, October 14th, 1644, whose father was an Admiral 
in the English navy. He was educated at Oxford, where 
he was a cotemporary friend and admirer of John Locke. 
While here he heard Thomas Loe, an itinerant preacher, 
whose sentiments and practices were those of the Quakers 
or Friends, whose views he adopted as his own. Henceforth 
he refused the surplice or to take off his hat in the presence of 



12 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

dignitaries. This occasioned his expulsion from college and 
his ejection even from home, and seemed for a while 
effectually to block up his way to preferment. He therefore 
turned author. But for expressing opinions contrary to the 
prevailing ones he was shut up in the Tower of London, where 
he wrote his famous treatise, " No Cross, Nb Crown." After 
eight months incarceration, at the intercession of friends he 
was liberated, and at the instance of his mother was allowed 
to return home. His father, however, who was of a haughty 
disposition, would not for a long time hold any commu- 
nication with him, but by foreign travel and gay society 
attempted to wear off his son's views and practices. The 
father was not successful in this, and he finally became 
reconciled to his son, which opened the way to his prefer- 
ment. When the Admiral died he left William about ^2^1,500 
a year and an unsettled claim on the Crown of ^16,000, which 
Charles II., then reigning monarch, settled by granting him, 
January 5th, 1681, the territory now known as Pennsylvania, 
and which was so named in the grant by order of the King — 
a territory running three degrees of latitude and five of 
longitude, and embracing some 26,000,000 acres of land. 
Penn at once sent out pioneers, and in August, 1682, set 
sail himself for his province in the ship Welcome, arriving 
off Newcastle with one hundred men October 27th, whence 
he leisurely ascended the river and commenced and carried 
forward in detail the plans for the city which he had already 
projected, and which his agents had initiated, and he founded 
the State of Pennsylvania, the only commonwealth in the 
world that perpetuates the name of its founder 

When Penn arrived he found numerous Swedes occupying 
parts of the territory. The whole of the present site of 
Philadelphia was owned by a Swedish family named Svven. 
They resided near what until recently has been the Navy 
Yard, outside the city as originally laid out. Of this' family 
Penn made purchase of the ground where he began his city. 
The land was their's by occupation, and it had been con- 



FOUNDING OF THE CITY. 1 3 

firmed to them by Queen Christiana of Sweden in 1653, and 
also afterwards by Charles I. of England. Swanson street 
to-day perpetuates their name. 

The site of the city and the adjacent territory had been 
under several dominions since its discovery. The Dutch, 
through Commander May, who gave name to the cape at the 
mouth of the Delaware, first entered this river in 1609. In 
1638 the Swedes took possession. In 1655 the Dutch 
re-asserted their claim. Finally, in 1644, the English under 
the Duke of York took the country, retaining possession of 
it until the war of independence. 

One of the first acts of Penn was, according to tradition, 
to make a treaty with the Indians. This was done in 
November, 1682, The treaty made was one of concord, and 
not connected with any purchase as has often been supposed. 
It was made under a huge elm, with wide spreading branches 
and twenty-four feet girth of trunk, in what was then 
called Shackamaxon, and which now forms a part of Ken- 
sington. An imaginary painting and numerous engravings 
of the scene are familiar. The tree was long preserved. 
During the revolution, while the British occupied the city, 
it was protected by command of an officer from the axes of 
the soldiers, who otherwise would have made fuel of it. 
March 3d, 18 10, it was blown down in a gale. On counting 
its rings it was found to be 283 years old. Its wood was 
fashioned into various devices and kept as souvenirs. The 
celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush had a chair made of it. 
Others had other articles of use or ornament manufactured, 
most of which have now probably become lost, or are 
unknown to fame. The tree was accurately drawn by 
Thomas Birch, a painter. Under it, in the early times, pic- 
nics were common ; also preaching services. Methodists 
and Baptists frequently used its shade for the latter purpose. 
Doctor Staughton, of the Baptist Church, one of the most 
eloquent men of his day in Philadelphia, often preached 
there. A few years ago a society, called the Penn, was 



14 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

formed, the object of which was the collection and preser- 
vation of relics of the founder of the city, and tlie publishing 
of traditions of him and of the early colony. This society 
has collapsed, but not before it had erected a small monument 
which marks the spot Avhere the treaty tree stood, near the 
corner of Beach and Hanover streets, in a recess on the east 
side of the former and north of the latter street. Each of its 
four sides has an inscription which reads : " Treaty ground of 
William Penn and the Indian nations, 1682, Unbroken 
Faith." "William Penn, born 1644, died 1718." "Placed 
by the Penn Society A. D. 1827, to mark the site of the great 
elm tree." " Pennsylvania founded 1681 by deeds of peace." 
Of the treaty, Voltaire has observed that "It was the only 
one never broken," [The Second and Third street cars run 
near the spot.] 

The Indians, conciliated by Penn, were very peaceable. 
Their state was a rude one. Bird's claws were used by them 
for fish hooks Steel axes were unknown. When they 
wanted a tree for any purpose they burnt it down, and they 
prepared articles of wood out of it in the same way. So 
they made their canoes. These aborigines called the English 
Yengees, which may be the original of the designation 
Yankees. The origin, however, of this latter term is very 
generally claimed for a Bostonian. A similar word is used 
in the modern Syriac, denoting new world men. The term 
may have been originated in more places than one. 

Names were at once given to the various streets. Those 
running east and west were called after the trees found in 
the country, as Vine, Mulberry, Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce, 
Pine, Cedar, &c. The central street, that now known as 
Market, was named High. The streets running north and 
south, at right angles, were designated by the ordinal num- 
bers. First, Second, &c., except what are now Front and Dela- 
ware, and the centre which would have been Fourteenth — 
which, as broader than the others, was called Broad st-reet. 
The streets from the Delaware up were called Deleware First, 



FOUNDING OF THE CITY. 15 

&c., and those from Broad street on, Schuylkill First, &c. 
This division in the notation has ceased. Between the large 
blocks alleys were opened, which in a later day have been 
built upon, forming in some instances fine streets with hand- 
some rows of houses. 

The first child born in Philadelphia was John Kay, in 
1682, of English parents. His birth place was a cave at the 
northwest corner of Vine and Front streets, known afterwards 
as Pennypot. He laid the corner stone of the Pennsylvania 
Hospital in 1755. He lived to be 85, dying in 1767. 

The first houses of the city were built of logs, or were 
mere caves dug in the bank on the river side. Some became 
content Avith these, and public action had to be taken for 
their removal. Everything at the start was as rude as these 
houses. Cooking was done out of doors, either in the open 
air or under extemporized sheds, and pots and kettles were 
suspended over the fire from horizontal poles. 

Game was very abundant where now the city stands. A 
story is told of a flight of pigeons which lasted two days, and 
which could scarce find resting place at night. Boughs were 
broken by their weight. Wild turkeys and bears and deer 
were numerous. Sturgeon abounded in the waters. Grapes 
and whortleberries were thick in the swamps. Nature thus 
greatly aided the stout hearts and strong arms which started 
the Philadelphia of to-day. 



CHAPTER II. 

History of the City from its Settlement in 
1682 down to 1776. 

W^HE new city increased rapidly, and speedily rose to 

I eminence. The first settlers were mostly from England. 
But other nationalities, Irish, Scotch, Germans and 
French began early to crowd in — many of whom, pushing 
into the interior, contributed thence to the building up of the 
city. The fruitfulness of the soil, and its cheapness (forty 
shillings per one hundred acres), the salubrity of the climate, 
the excellence of the government, the freedom enjoyed, and 
the escape it afforded from " woeful Europe," being duly 
set forth, contributed to this result. In 1683 the Germans, 
under the lead of Francis Daniel Pastorius, settled German- 
town, then several miles from the city, but now incorporated 
within" its limits. 

In 1684, the government of the city was vested in the 
hands of a mayor and aldermen. Edward Shippen was the 
first mayor. The place was then known as a borough. In 
1 70 1 it received a city charter, which continued m force 
until after the revolution- 

The government of the colony was at first proprietary, and 
administered in Philadelphia. The laws of England, Penn, 
aided by Algernon Sydney, whom he had assisted to Parlia- 
ment, adapted to the new circumstances. Penn himself, 
during his lifetime, was Governor. But spending most of 
his time in England, deputy Governors were appointed. 
The first of these was Thomas Lloyd. The Governor or his 
deputy was assisted by a council of five commissioners. 
Their first assembly was in 1684. 

Penn had a great deal of trouble with his city and his 
Pennsylvania possessions both here and in England. From 



ITS HISTORY FROM 1CS2 TO 1776. ij 

1691 to 1696 civil commotion abounded, and he was seriously- 
threatened with the loss of his grant. Had Penn resided 
here these troubles w^ould probably have not occurred. A 
greater spirit of liberty arose in America, and men took 
advantage of his absence. His stay in this country was not 
altogether more than four years, and this was divided into 
two periods. His first visit was between 1682 and 1684; 
his second from 1699 to 1701. Could sufficient money 
have been raised for his support he would have lived here ; 
but the people could not comply with his necessities. 

While Penn was here on his first visit he built or occupied 
a house, which he afterwards gave to his daughter, and which 
was named after her, Letitia. It stood between Front and 
Second streets, on what is now known as Letitia court, on the 
west side and near Market street, and was one of the earliest 
if not the first house built in the city, as laid out. A part of 
the house still remains, and is occupied as a tavern. During 
his last visit, Penn resided in what was known as the Slate 
Roof House. It stood on the southeast corner of Second 
street and Morris alley, below Chestnut. Here the Deputy 
Governors afterwards lived. When they ceased to occupy 
it, it was used as a first class boarding house. There many 
of the great men of the early times made their abode. It 
stood until 1867, when it was taken down, and the Commer- 
cial Exchange, since burned but rebuilt, was erected on its 
site. Up the river, nearly opposite Bordentown, Penn had 
a country seat, which he called Pennsbury. On it he erected 
a splendid mansion, at a cost of ^7,000, and sumptuously 
furnished it. Just prior to the Revolution it was torn down 
with the intention of rebuilding it ; but the troublous times 
which ensued prevented its rising again. 

In his latter days, Penn was much embarrassed by debts. 
Help was sought from America, but not rendered. He was 
obliged therefore to mortgage his property. His American 
possessions he mortgaged in 1708 for $30,000. This did not 
extricate him, and he languished several months in prison. 



l8 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

in accordance with a law which in his own government he 
had abolished. He died on his estate at Rushcombe, in 
Buckinghamshire, in 1718, having been affected with a 
paralytic stroke. His grant he left to his three sons, Thomas, 
Richard and John. The latter of these, called the American 
Penn because born here, was Governor when the Revolution 
broke out, when he sold out to the State for J5 80,000, and 
what had been a proprietary government ceased. This was 
in 1777. 

Meanwhile the city continued to grow. At the end of 
three years from its commencement, it contained six hundred 
houses, and over two thousand inhabitants. Down to August, 
1683, there had arrived sixty vessels, having on board four 
thousand souls, all of whom settled in the city or province. 
Fine frame and brick houses began to arise, some of them 
three stories in height. In 17 18, the year of Penn's death, 
his city and the country round about was described as " an 
enclosed garden and fruitful field made out of a wilderness," 
By the middle of the i8th century the city had risen to such 
eminence as well nigh to rival New York. I 

Among the buildings of this period, the old Court House, | 
so-called, which stood on Market street, near Second, was ! 
prominent. It was erected in 1707, by means of gifts, fines i 
and assessments. Here the State Council and City Fathers ! 
assembled, laws were enacted, justice administered, a pillory j 
was kept, elections were held, auctions were cried, and 
preaching done. From its balcony, Whitefield was accus- 
tomed to address assembled thousands. In 1823, after 116 
years of useful service, it was torn down. The new State I 
House, or Independence Hall, was built 1729-35, during the 
period of this chapter, but we shall notice- it in another. 
The house of Bartram, the botanist, was erected during this 
period — 1731 — and is still standing near Gray's ferry, west 
side of the river. 

Among the celebrated persons who made their advent and 
residence in the city at this time, none have become of more 



ITS HISTORY FROM 1682 TO 1 776. 



19 



note than Benjamin Franklin. He came here, a lad of seven- 
teen, from Boston in 1723, having run away from his brother, 
in whose printing office he was there employed. On his 
arrival he had but a few cents; but he vv^ent to work with a 
will and soon accumulated money, and compelled consider- 
tion. He was in all councils and in every undertaking. He 
became a philosopher, a scientist and an author. In 1746 
he demonstrated electricity and lightning to be identical. 
He became a patriot, a member of Congress, an ambassador 

of his country to foreign 
courts ; filled the city with 
mementoes of his good 
will, and did the cause of 
American Independence 
immense service. We shall 
find occasion again to 
notice this man. 

The colony and city, 
prior to the Revolution, 
was not free from disturb- 
ances, both domestic and 
foreign. In 1764 the Pax- 
ton boys, Scotch-Irish in- 
habitants of a township of 
that name in Lancaster 
county, seriously menaced the city. These had become 
incensed against the Indians, and had persecuted and slain 
many of them, and while doing so carried terror to the whites 
throughout the province. Many of these poor creatures 
sought protection in the city. This occasioned the descent 
there of an army of hundreds of these desperadoes, to the 
great consternation of the Philadelphians. But by diplomacy, 
in which Franklin took a prominent part, they were induced 
to retire and disband. In 1744, in the western extremity 
of the State, at Fort Du Quesne, afterwards called Pittsburg 
in honor of the ^^eat British statesman Pitt, the French, 




BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 



20 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

English, Americans and Indians became embroiled in a wai 
which lasted several years. This of course affected the city 
more or less. I 

Everything in those days was done in a manner which is 
in strange contrast to what now attains. No wagons were 
used, only carts, until near the middle of the century. 
Leather bands were used for springs. In the early days of 
the city not even carts were used, but only horses. Foreign 
fabrics did not come into general use until after the year 1750. 
Leather breeches and aprons were common with workmen. 
Earlier, skins were used. Cocked hats, large cuffs reaching 
to the elbows, immense plaited skirts, ruffles, stocks, silver 
buckles, and low-crowned hats were worn by the men. But f 
they wore no drawers, no suspenders, no surtouts, no top 
boots, and no over-coats. The women wore white beaver 
hats, caps, stays, hoops, high heeled clogs, crimson and blue "^ 
aprons, and masks with mouth pieces to keep them on. ' 
Odious fashions were broken up by hanging felons in them, 
or by dressing men in them and sending these men through 
the streets, preceded by a boy with a drum. Wigs with 
powder were used. Side whiskers were avoided, as too Mo- 
hammedan. Cues and plaits were done up in bags. Frizzled 
side locks, mufflers and Dutch blankets were common. Aged 
men wore silver buttons with their initials on. Customers f 
were called upon by tailors to take their measure. Wooden 
mortars were used to pound wheat in. Spinning wheels 
were common. Rush bottomed chairs with high backs, 
made of maple, were used. Cups and.-saucers were small. 
Veneering was not practised. Dipped candles were in com- 
mon use. Chinaware was rare and costly. Pewter plates 
and porringers and trenchers were common. The punch 
bowl was in most houses, but no sideboards. There were 
no stoves known until 1741, when Franklin invented his, an 
open one — nor until the ten-plate stove, first made here, was i 
presented to the public. No paper was used on walls prior to 
1769, and no carpets (but sand was used) on floors prior to 

I 
i 



ITS HISTORY FROM 1682 TO 1776. 21 

1750. The merchants lived where their business was. Ladies 
were accustomed to sit on the porch in the afternoon. 
Capes were used instead of umbrellas. The latter, to keep 
off rain and sun, were not common till near the time of the 
Revolution. Clocks, chimneys and cupboards were usually 
placed in the corners of rooms. The latter had glass doors, 
and were used to keep china in. Hospitality was great. 
Everybody spoke to each other. Marriages were announced, 
and particulars concerning the lady given. As many as 
twelve witnesses to the ceremony were required. Tea was 
a rarity. As much care was used in making it as in com- 
pounding a physician's prescription. Scales were used to 
insure an exact quantity. 

Among the curiosities of those times, for us, stands postal 
arrangements. Penn issued an order for an office as early 
as 1683, but no regular act was enacted until 1700. Down 
to 1748, such foreign letters as were not called for by citizens 
aboard the ships, were sent to the London Coffee House, the 
chief inn of the period. In 1753 a penny post was estab- 
lished, and newspapers were carried free. Until 1755, it 
took six weeks from the time a letter was sent to receive an 
answer from Boston. The first stage for carrying the mail 
dates 1756. Boys on horseback often carried It. They blew 
a horn denoting their arrival. 

In 1765 stamps of the British Government, to be placed 
on documents, and paid for to the Crown, so obnoxious to the 
colonists, arrived in Philadelphia. An agent was appointed 
to dispose of them. But the attitude of the people was such 
he never entered on his office. On their arrival, muffled 
bells were tolled, and the flags of the city were hung at half 
mast. In 1770 the Government abolished the act, but a 
spirit of resistance to tyrannical and unjust laws had been 
engendered. A tax of 3d, per pound had been laid by the 
British Government on tea. This act was obnoxious to the 
colonists, and in 1765 a non-importation agreement was 
entered into by the Philadelphians. This impost was not 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 



repealed when the stamp act was. In 1773 the East India 
Company imported some tea to test the people. But they 
would not accept it with the duty imposed. On only one 
chest was the tax collected. Another source of trouble with 
the parent Government was their claim to be sole manufac- 
turers for their colonists. January i8th, 1774, eight thousand 
people assembled in Philadelphia to protest against these and 

like tyrannical 
acts and unjust 
encroachments. 
They appointed 
a Commiittee of 
Correspond- 
ence, through 
whom a Provin- 
cial Congress 
was convened, 
for the discus- 
sion and protec- 
tion of their 
rights. July 15, 
1774, this Pro- 
vincial Congress 
held their first 
session. 




CARPENTERS HALL. 



September 5, 
1774, the Con- 
tinental Con- 
gress, consisting of delegates from the several Provincial 
Congresses, held their first meeting. It was in Philadelphia. 
Fifty-four delegates from twelve colonies assembled. It was 
this body that proposed, organized and guided the Revolution. 
Independence at first was not contemplated, only a redress of 
grievances. So they a drafted a bill of rights, which they 
passed October T4th. They also drew up petitions to the 
King, and addresses to the British people and the colonists. 



ITS HISTORY FROM 1682 TO 1 776. 23 

They further organized an association, with fourteen articles, 
intended to promote non-intercourse with the mother country 
under existing circumstances. A vote of thanks to their 
friends in Parliament was also passed. They continued in 
session seven weeks, sitting with closed doors, until October 
26th. They adjourned to meet again May loth, 1775, pro- 
vided their grievances were not redressed. They did meet 
again on this date. The battles of Lexington and Concord 
had just taken place. They were on the eve of that of 
Bunker Hill. It was evident the views and temper of the 
country were ripening for revolution. The Congress now 
took a bolder and firmer stand. All compromises were 
rejected, and they even went fo far as to call out an army, 
4,400 troops, as the quota of Pennsylvania, were accordingly 
raised in the course of the year. Immediately provision was 
made for the defense of the city. Large quantities of salt- 
petre were stored. Still they drew up another address and 
petition to the King before they separated. 

The place where the first session of this Congress was 
held was Carpenters' Hall. This building was erected in 
1770 by a society of carpenters, which had been organized 
in 1724, which society still exists, and is the oldest organiza- 
tion in the country. They still own the Hall. For a while 
this historic building, which has resounded with the voices of 
such men as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George 
Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other like 
men, was devoted to profane uses. But it has now been 
restored, and is kept as a relic, being filled with mementoes 
of the revolution, and is open to the public free. It is 
situated at the head of an alley running out of Chestnut 
street, on the south side, between Third and Fourth streets. 
In this edifice the Constitution of the United States was 
drafted. 



CHAPTER III. 
Philadelphia in 1776. 



IN May of this year, the Continental Congress began its 
third session in this city. On the 15th, it recommended 
each of tlie colonies to form for themselves a Govern- 
ment. On the 7th of June, Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia; 
Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania; Robert Livingston, of 
New York; Roger Sherman, of Connecticut; and John 
Adams, of Massachusetts, were appointed a committee to 
draft a Declaration of Independence. On the 28th they 
reported one. July ist it was taken up and debated. Rev. 
Dr. John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian divine, and the only 
clergyman in Congress, a Scotchman, and President of 
Princeton College, a delegate from New Jersey, said : " the j 
country is not only ripe for it ; it is rotting for want of it." 
July the 2d, Henry Lee, of Virginia, moved, and John Adams, 
of Massachusetts, seconded the resolution that " The United 
Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent 
States, and that all political connection between them and 
Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." July 
the 4th, toward evening, the form of the Declaration as it 
had become altered in course of debate, was adopted, and 
signed by John Hancock, Eresident, and fifty-four delegates. 
The original instrument of the committee is in Independence 
Hall. That passed and signed is in Washington. Jefferson, 
as chairman of the committee, wrote it at his lodgings, near 
the southwest corner of Seventh and Market streets. On the 
1 2th, the bell of the State House called the people together, 
and from the steps of that building Colonel John Nixon 
read the Declaration, which had now been ratified by the 
States, amid great rejoicings. At night the city was generally 
illuminated. On the day after the passage of this instrument. 



PHILADELP^tlA IN 1776. 



25 



John Adams wrote his wife: "The 4th of July, 1776, will 
be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt 
to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as 
the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated 
as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to 
Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomps, 
shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, 

from one end of 
the continent 
to the other, 
from this time 
forward for- 
ever. You will 
think me trans- 
ported with en- 
thusiasm but I 
am not. I am 
well aware of 
the toil and 
blood and 
treasure it will 
cost to main- 
tain the De- 
claration, and 
support and 
defend these 
States, Yet 
through all this gloom I can see the rays of light and of 
glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the 
means, and that posterity will triumph, although you and I 
may rue, which I hope we shall not." 

The Continental Congress met the second and this third 
time in the State House on Chestnut street, between Fourth 
and Fifth streets. The erection of this edifice had been 
completed in 1735 at a cost of $30,000, and was tlien the 
finest civil edifice in America. Its original steeple becoming 




INDEPENDENCE HALL. 



26 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

decayed was taken down during the Revolution, and a tem- 
porary one substituted, which in 1828 was replaced by the 
present one. A bell, cast in England, and weighing 2,082 
pounds, was placed in the first steeple in 1752. It was 
cracked on its first ringing. Then it was recast with the 
strikingly prophetic words from Leviticus xxv, 10, inscribed 
upon it, " Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all 
the inhabitants thereof." In 1777, after fulfilling this pro- 
phecy, it was removed to Bethlehem, to prevent its falling 
into the hands of the British. After its restoration, it, too, 
was cracked, and it now stands in the Hall as a relic. 
Devices have been proposed for recovering its tone. But 
this probably will never be done. A new bell, made out of 
old cannon, and weighing 13,000 pounds, a present to the 
city by private parties, after July 4th, 1876, takes the 
place of the one which has been in use several years past. 
^A large clock, with a face at each end of the building, was 
set up in the early times. After the passage of the Declara- 
tion, the name State House was changed to Independence 
Hall, a name which it still does, and probably always will, 
retain. In this edifice, Washington delivered his Farewell 
Address to the American people, and Presidents and Vice- 
Presidents have been inaugurated. Here a reception was 
accorded to Lafayette, on his last visit to this country. In 
the room where Congress met, portraits of the signers and 
others are contained. Also numerous relics of the past, as, a 
table and chairs used by these men. The roomx opposite 
contains colonial relics, and has been set apart for a museum 
of historical curiosities. The building stands to-day sub- 
stantially as it was in the beginning. It is of brick, tAvo 
stories high. There are now buildings at each end — on the 
east the City Hall, on the west the Court House, &c,, where 
the Federal Congress sat. A statue of Washington stands on 
the open front on Chestnut street, where mass meetings have 
often been held. On the other side is a park, which used to 
be a fashionable promenade. These buildings were used by 



PHILADELPHIA IN I776. 27 

the State Government until 1800, when the Capitol was 
removed. It is still used by the city and the courts ; and 
will be until the completion of the new City Buildings, corner 
of Market and Broad streets. The city proposes then to 
make complete restoration of the main edifice, and thence- 
forth to keep it as a museum of American history, and a 
memento of the past. The building is open to the public, 
free, from 9 A. m. until 4 p. m. From the steeple, a fine view 
of the city may be obtained. 

The first American flag was made, during this year, in the 
City of Philadelphia. 



CHAPTER IV. 

History of Philadelphia during the War of the 
Revolution, 1776-1783. 

rrr^ROM September 26th, 1777. to June i8th, 177S, Phila- 

Ji delphia was occupied by the British under Cornwallis. 

The soldiers were quartered in the public places of the 

city, and on the citizens. Major Andre was among them, 

and was quartered on Dr. Franklin. 

The soldiery indulged in much gaiety during the occupa- 
tion. They ran the theatre. One of the most gorgeous 
entertainments of the age, famous in history, called the 
Mirchianza, which consisted of a regatta, tournament and 
ball, was given in honor of General Howe, as he was about 
to take leave of the army, and sail for England, It has been 
minutely described by Major Andre. 

What has been humorously described as the Battle of the 
Kegs took place at this time. Several barrels, filled with 
combustibles, so constructed that when they came in contact 
with a resisting substance they would explode, were floated 
down the river, being intended to operate among the British 
vessels anchored opposite the city. These vessels, however, 
were suddenly moored to the wharves before the kegs arrived, 
so that only one or two had an opportunity to explode, and 
these produced no serious disaster. They occasioned great 
consternation, however. Francis Hopkinson, one of the 
signers, wrote a poetical description of the affair. 

The stay of the British in Philadelphia was favorable to 
the American cause. They became enervated thereby. 
Their designs, moreover, were occasionally exposed and 
frustrated, by the patriot forces which surrounded them. In 
one instance, a council was held in the house of a lady, to 
mature a plan for surprising and cutting off General Washing- 



PHILADELPHIA DURING THE REVOLUTION. 29 

ton, who laid encamped at Whitemarsh, about fourteen miles 
distant. The lady, suspecting something, put herself in 
position to overhear the matter. Early in the morning, on 
a pretext of needing some flour, she started for a mill in the 
direction of Whitemarsh, with the intelligence she had 
gathered. She communicated it in time to the General, and 
was the means of saving him and his army. Her name was 
Lydia Darrah. 

The evacuation of the city was finally ordered by the 
ministry at home. This caused great rejoicing among the 
people. When the troops had taken their departure, the 
American army, under the extravagant Arnold, immediately 
entered. 

During the war several battles were fought in the vicinity 
of Philadelphia, which more or less affected it. The first 
was that of Brandywine, in Chester county, September nth, 
1777, which resulted disastrously to the patriots, and which 
was immediately followed by the occupation of the city. 
The next was that of Germantown, October 4th, within the 
limits of the present city. Besides these, there occurred, in 
quick succession, the massacre of the Americans at Paoli, 
the destruction of their stores at Valley Forge, the skirmishes 
at Whitemarsh, Barren Hill, and other places. 

During this period. Congress was obliged to desert Phila- 
delphia, and flee from city to city. After their return, they 
held their sessions for a time in Germantown, where they 
rented the Academy, at an annual cost of $300. 

Tories abounded in the city. The Quakers were generally 
such. Some of these were made an example of, being, 
through the Committee of Safety, banished to Winchester, 
Va. Traitors arose in the persons of men named Roberts 
and Carlisle. Their defense occasioned a riot. 

Money, during this period, became very scarce. A paper 
currency, styled Continental, was issued by Congress in large 
quantities, to supply the place of specie. The first issue was 
in 1775, and amounted to $3,000,000. For some eighteen 



30 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 



months it was as good as gold. Then it began to decline in 
value, and never rallied again. In this currency tea became 
worth $150 per pound; calico, $85 a yard; silks, $100; boots, 
$600 per pair. In 1781 one dollar in gold was worth seventy- 
five in currency. At the end of that year, the Continental 
money was worth nothing* Philadelphia was now the finan- 
cial centre of tlie country. Robert Morris, of the city, was 
the great financier of the Government. Continental money 

failing, he negotiated, in 
1780, a loan of $26,000,000, 
thus supplying the sinews 
of war, and keeping the 
American cause from sink- 
ing. Congress and the 
colonies began to take 
steps towards the redemp- 
tion of the $200,000,000 
of paper money which, 
down to 1779, had been 
issued. But the work was 
found to be beyond their 
capacity. The state of 
finances and of the cur- 
rency occasioned great 
distress. At two different 
times Congress was threatened by an enraged soldiery on 
this account. 

Philadelphia contained many noble patriots" during the 
war. There was Christopher Ludwick, a German and a 
baker, who out of comparative poverty, subscribed largely 
to the cause. Many Hessians were induced by him to desert 
the British. He was an honest man, and became very 
popular. For 100 pounds of flour he was accustomed to 
give 135 pounds of bread. He naturally became baker- 
general of the army. Then there was John Mase. In 1780 
he contributed $20,000, and in various other ways aided. 




GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



PHILADELPHIA DURING THE KEVOLUTION. 3I 

He lived until 1826, and was the last in Philadelphia who 
wore the cocked hat of the Revolution. In the same year, 
John Maxwell Nesbit saved the army by a timely contribu- 
tion. Thomas Willis gave $25,000 with which to clothe the 
army, George Gray, after whom Gray's Ferry is named, 
did much to help the cause. So he became a mark to shoot 
at. After the Battle of Brandywine. he was hid in a flour 
bin, and escaped the enemy. Whitly Hall, so-called, east of 
the Darby road, on Gray's lane, leading to the ferry, which 
was built in 1741 and 1758, marks the place where he resided. 
During the winter of 1780-1, 2,200 ladies of the city engaged 
in making shirts for the army. Thomas Paine, who arrived 
in Philadelphia in 1774, being introduced by Franklin, 
became, by his writings, a powerful helper. Several numbers 
of the "Crisis" were published in the city, and both it and 
"Common Sense" were written in the American interest. 
He was prompted to these by Philadelphians. Samuel 
Wheeler did much service as an ingenious mechanic. He 
was a great ironsmith. Cannon ball were made by him, by 
welding bars of iron. One of these was captured at the 
Battle of Brandywine, and is now preserved in the Tower of 
London. Hp made a chain to stretch across the harbor of 
New York, in the value of which Washington had great 
confidence ; but by stratagem it was cut. 

Works of benevolence abounded in the city, notwith- 
standing the war. In 1775 ^^^ ^^^^ abolition society in 
America had been established, by the Friends, of Philadel- 
phia. And now, in 1780, provision was made for the gradual 
abolition of slavery, which had become common in Pennsyl- 
vania, Droves of slaves were often seen in the city. 

The news of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, 
which event occurred October 19th, 1781, arrived in Phila- 
delphia about midnight by express. The watchman at once 
spread the tidings. Illuminations and fireworks and great 
rejoicings celebrated this victory as the end of the war. 

Philadelphia was now no mean city. At the close of the 
war it contained 6,000 houses and 30,000 people. 



CHAPTER V. 

History of the City from 1783 down to 
the present time. 

IN 1787 a convention, the object of which was the forma- 
tion of a Constitution for the United States, met in 
Philadelphia. The instrument they drafted went into ' 
effect the year following. On the 6th of July, 1788, there 
was a monster gathering in the city, which celebrated its 
adoption. There was a procession of 5,000; and 17,000 
assembled on what was then known as Union Green. Ten 
tents, according to the number of States that had entered 
into the compact, were erected, under which dinner was 
served. 

The General Government had its seat in New York for a 
while. But from 1790 to 1800 it was located in Philadelphia. 
In the latter year it was removed to Washington. A house 
was erected by the State Government for Washington, on 
Ninth street between Chestnut and Market. The President 
refused to accept it. Afterwards it passed 'into the hands of 
the University of Pennslyvania, and the site is now occupied 
by a part of the new Post Office. 

The progress of the city during the period of this chapter 
may be noted by various events — such as the introduction 
of water in 1800, of anthracite coal in families in 1825, of 
gas in quantity in 1836. A day police, improvement in 
pavements, and a system of sewerage, have been other note- 
worthy signs of progress. But the opening of canals and 
railroads has done as much or more than anything else, 
and is the sure sign of the city's prosperity. 

In 1798 the first bridge connecting the city with the 
country beyond was thrown across the Schuylkill. This was 
at Market street. The master spirit in its construction was 



ITS HISTORY FROM 1783 TO 1S76. 33 

Richard Peters, a patriot of the Revokition, and an eminent 
and useful man. The work, for its day, Avas one of enterprise, 
magnitude and skill, and was without a rival. .$40,000 was 
paid by the company that erected it for the privilege of the 
site. It was built of wood, and cost $275,000, The rock 
on which the west pier rested, was 41 feet below high water. 
A weight of 7,500 tons was put upon that rock. This bridge 
was ultimately bought by the city and made free. In 
December, 1875, it was burned, but has since been replaced. 
Since this bridge was erected, numerous others have been 
thrown across the Schuylkill, the more promirent of which 
are Chestnut street, Callowhull street and Girard avenue; 
but over the Delaware there is no bridge below Trenton, 
thirty miles above. The first wire suspension bridge in the 
country was built at Fairmount. 

During the summer of 1798, the patriotic song "Hail 
Columbia " w^as written by Joseph Hopkinson, son of Francis 
Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration, a native and resident 
of Philadelphia. It was written to help a young singer in 
one of the theatres, in a benefit. Wholly American, it 
became at once immensely popular. 

Philadelphia has not been without its riots. There was 
the sailor's in 1786. Two or three hundred of them struck 
for higher wages. Their demands being refused, they armed 
themselves with clubs and knives, pressed others into their 
ranks, prevented vessels from sailing, and for several days 
held possession of the river front. They were at length 
dispersed by a company of policemen, headed by an alder- 
man of the city, afterwards its mayor, Robert Wharton, a 
very determined man, who read the riot act, and then, with 
his men, arrested the ringleader, and about one hundred of 
the rioters. Then there was the Walnut street prison riots, 
occurring about the same time, occasioned by discontent 
and fever, in which several of the rioters were shot. Other 
riots have been Catholic, Negro, Firemen's, Kensington 
Railroad and Know Nothing. 



34 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

In 1790 Benjamin Franklin died, aged 85. He was buried 
in the graveyard of Christ Church, corner of Arch and 
Fourth streets, in the northwest corner of the yard. An iron 
grating in the wall on Arch street gives a view of the tomb, 
which is a flat stone, bearing, as directed by himself, the 
simple inscription, "Benjamin and Deborah Franklin." He 
established the third printing office in Philadelphia, compiled 
and published, for many years, the Almanac purporting to 
be by Richard Saunders, was proprietor and editor of news- 
papers, visited England and the Continent several times in 
the public and in private service, was honored by Oxford 
with the title of LL.D., signed the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, was Postmaster-General, treaty maker, &c., &c. 
Few men have done more for the city than he did. 

Numerous places during these years sprung up in the 
suburbs, which now are incorporated as parts of the city — 
as, Southwalk formed into a Government of its own, 1794; 
the Northern Liberties, 1803; Moyamensing, 1812; Spring 
Garden, 1803 ; Kensington, 1820; and Blockley, West Phila- 
delphia, Manayunk, Roxboro, Germantown, Chestnut Hill, 
Passyunk, and other places. These were all consolidated in 
1854 in one city of 129 square miles, and containing 77,000 
acres of ground, and extending on the Delaware 22 miles, 
and on the Schuylkill 10 miles, forming a city larger in area 
than any other on the continent. 

Yellow fever has visited the city several times. Also 
cholera. There have been no large conflagrations. 

Philadelphia has been blessed in late year by having 
established, within a few hours ride, two watering places, or 
sea-side resorts, Cape May and Atlantic City, both of which 
are reached by railroads ; the former also by steamboats. 



CHAPTER VL 

Government and General Description of 
the City. 

W^HE city is officered by a Mayor, Recorder, Comptroller, 
I Treasurer, Counsellor, Receiver of Taxes, and several 
Aldermen. These have charge of the streets, wharves, 
sewers, lights, water supply, police, markets, schools, public 
health, fire department, parks, finances, &c., &c., and appoint 
officers under them. There are twenty-nine wards, each of 
which sends one select and one common councilman for 
every 2,000 taxed persons. A charter defines and regulates 
the rights, powers and privileges of the city and its officers. 
The party at present in power is Republican. Elections 
take place Tuesday after first Monday in February in each 
year. The Mayor's term is three years. 

Head-quarters used to be in the Old Court House that 
stood on Market street, and in the City Hall, Chestnut and 
Fifth streets. Latterly, business has been conducted in the 
State House and adjoining buildings. But new buildings 
are in course of erection, which, when finished, will be the 
finest municipal edifices in the country. They are rising on 
the spot, designed for such by Penn, at the junction of 
Market and Broad streets, filling the whole of these two 
streets, and the squares that were on their corners. These 
buildings were begun in 187 1, and will be completed in time 
for the decentennial of the city in 1882. A tower is to rise 
in the centre, surmounted by a bronze statue of William 
Penn. This tower will be, with the statue of Penn on the 
top, nearly 500 feet high, and will be the highest tower in 
the world. The building is to contain 520 rooms, and will 
cover four and a half acres. The material used in its outside 
construction is granite and marble. The whole cost Hall be 
from $6,000,0000 to $10,000,000- 



^6 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

The city is lighted by 9,000 public lamps, nearly all of 
which are gas. There are over 1,000 miles of gas and water 
pipes in the streets. The sewerage extends 150 miles. 
There are 900 miles of streets, 500 of which are paved. The 
number of houses is 130,000, which is at least 60,000 more 
than New York contains. On an average lately over 5,000 
houses have been annually added to the city. The real 
estate of the city is assessed at $525,000,000. Its debt is 
$52,000,000. The annual cost of conducting its affairs is 
$8,000,000. The population is over 800,000, making it, in 
this respect, the second city in the Union. 

There are no tenement houses in Philadelphia. Occa- 
sionally two or more families may occupy a house, as is done 
very extensively in New York. But the rule is entirely 
separate apartments. Hence the city abounds in small 
dwellings, and is yet, to some extent, what Penn, in his own 
words, designed it to be, " a green country town, never burnt 
and always wholesome." 

Shade trees abound. Elliott Cresson, a merchant of the 
city, who died in 1854, who left $10,000 for the erection of a 
statue to Penn, who was the pioneer of colonization, and who 
otherwise was a large public as well as private benefactor, 
left $5,000 for thus improving the city. 

The houses of Philadelphia are numbered by placing the 
odd numbers on one side, and the even on the opposite ; 
and beginning each block with the initial number of a new 
hundred, as though there were really one hundred houses 
in every block. This plan was originated, at least the former 
part of it, in 1790, by Moses Fisher, who also was the author 
of the ordinance requiring bells to be affixed to horses in the 
streets in time of snow. 



CHAPTER VII. 
Places of Amusement and Public Interest. 

W^HE first theatrical exhibitions given in Philadelphia Avere 

I in 1749. These were merely domestic and amateur, 
and lasted only a few months. The first regular 
company, called Hallam's, appeared in 1754. They were 
foreigners, and stayed several years, occupying a store on 
Water street at first, until a building was erected for them 
on South street, above Fourth, and outside the city limits; 
a small frame structure, which was not only the first theatre 
in Philadelphia but in the New World. In 1759, not far 
distant from this, in Vernon street, was erected a larger and 
finer one. In 1766 a third one-was built. These were all 
in Southwalk — opposition to such entertainments within the 
city limits existing, and continuing until the period of the 
Revolution. 

The first theatre erected within the city limits was in 1793, 
on Chestnut street, near Sixth. In 1820 it was burned down, 
but was at once rebuilt, and opened again in 1822. This 
was the first public building in Philadelphia lighted with gas. 
Mr. Sprague, of Boston, the banker poet, composed for the 
lessee the address delivered at the re-opening. This theatre, 
with all others of the last century, has long since passed 
away. 

In 1828 the Arch street theatre was erected. It is situated 
near Sixth street, is a very fine building, well fitted up, and 
capable of accommodating some 800 persons. 

The same year, 1828, the present Walnut street theatre, 
\orner of Ninth street, was started. It was originally buiU 
in 1809 for equestrian performances, and was called the 
Olympic. 



38 THE CENTENNIAL CITY 

A theatre exists on Chestnut street, near Twelfth. This, 
the Arch, and the Walnut street, are the chief ones of the 
city of to-day. 

Over fifty attempts have been made to establish theatres 
in Philadelphia. 

The first play performed in the city was " The Fair 
Penitent." This was followed by " Miss in her Teens." 
" The Poor Soldier " was a popular piece, and when Wash- 
ington was in the city it was generally re-produced. 

The first tragedy written and" published in the United 
States was by a native of Philadelphia, Thomas Godfrey, Jr., 
a youth then of 25. It was called "The Prince of Parthia." 

Edwin Forrest, one of the most famous of American tragic 
actors, was born in Philadelphia in 1806. Here he had a 
residence, and here he died in 1872, and was buried in a 
vault in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Third street, near 
Walnut. His profession made him rich. A million of dollars 
was left by him for the benefit of his needy comrades of the 
stage, and has been employed in connection with a home for 
them near Holmesburg. With much pains and expense he 
gathered a Shakspearian library, the finest in existence, but 
which, in January, 1873, was nearly destroyed by fire. 
Native talent found in him an encourager. "Aylmere," a 
tragedy, written by T. Conrad, a mayor of the city, was 
purchased and played by him. The piece of sculpture 
representing, in wood. Tragedy and Comedy, by William 
Rush, an artist of Philadelphia, famous in that line, was 
purchased, and continued to be owned by Forrest. 

The first teacher of the art of'dancing made his appearance 
in Philadelphia in 1750. The first masquerade ball in the 
city was given by William Bingham, a wealthy and aristocratic 
man, connected with the Barings of London, and with Lord 
Ashburton. Now, dancing masters are numerous and balls 
common. 

Racing as an amusement, and as a means of developing 
horse flesh, in the days when there were neither locomotives 



PLACES OF AMUSEMENT AND PUBLIC INTEREST. 



39 



or steamboats, and when bridle paths were much used, was 
common in Philadelphia. Race street, as leading to a race 
course, and being a part of it, derives its name from this 
circumstance. 

Peak's museum, founded in 1784, and consisting at the 
start largely of his own paintings and those of his son Rem- 
brandt, was for a long time a popular place of resort. From 
1802 to 1828 it was kept in the State House. Thence it 
removed to the north side of Chesnut street, near Sixth. 
Finally it fell into the hands of the great showman, P. T. 

Barnum, who bought it 
at sheriff's sale for a little 
over $5,000. 

The Academy of Nat- 
ural Sciences, formerly 
on Broad street below 
Chestnut, but now on the 
corner of Race and Nine- 
teenth, is well worthy the 
visits of those who seek 
either instruction or enter- 
tainment. Their collection 
embraces upwards of 250,000 specimens in mineralogy, 
botany, skulls, fossils, shells, &c., also over 30,000 birds. In 
some respects it is excelled only by the British Museum. Its 
collection of birds is the largest in the world. Their library 
contains 25,000 volumes. It is open to the public for an 
admission fee of twenty-five cents, every day except Saturday 
and Sunday. 

Concerts, operas, lectures, &c., are frequent in the Academy 
of Music, built in 1857, corner of Broad and Locust streets, 
the largest room for these purposes thus far erected in the 
United States, being capable of seating nearly 3,000 persons, 
besides affording standing room for 500 more. 

A fine Art Building, to which the public are admitted on 
payment of the small fee of twenty-five cents, stands on the 




ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS. 



40 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

corner of Broad and Cherry streets. Its extent and magnifi- 
cence may be surmised from the fact that the whole property 
has cost some $300,000. Connected with it is a free School of 
Art. It contains some rare and beautiful specimens of art. 

Horticultural Hall, Broad street below Locust, was built 
by a society formed in 1827, the first society of its kind in 
the country. This is often made a place of great attraction, 
especially in the time of fruits and flowers, which is twice a 
year. 

Concert Hall, on Chestnut street, near Thirteenth ; the 
Women's Centennial Music Hall, Broad street and Master, 
adjoining Edwin Forrest's late residence; Simon & Slocum's 
Opera House, on Arch street above Tenth ; the Museum, 
corner of Arch and Tenth street; the Alhambra, Broad street 
near Spruce ; a Theatre, Music Hall and Garden are other 
places of amusement. The Franklin Institute, also, at certain 
seasons of the year, affords much entertainment, while their 
rooms on Seventh street, near Chestnut, are never devoid of 
interest. 

The Zoological Gardens in the Park, and some other 
places which will be noted in other chapters, are worthy of 
a visit for instruction or recreation or entertainment. 

A number of new places have been opened, stimulated by 
the Centennial Exposition. For a fuller list, see an appendix 
at the close of this volume. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Churches and Church Institutions. 

yr^HE first meeting house was the Friends', erected in 1685 

I near Centre square. As this was found to be too 

inconvenient a distance from the population, it was, 

in 1695, removed to corner of Market and Second streets. 

In 1755 this latter edifice was 
torn down to give place to a 
larger; and in 1808 the con- 
gregation removed to a new 
edifice on Arch street, between 
Third and Fourth, a commodious 
structure still standing. 




CHRIST CHURCH. 



Outside the then city, but 
within the present city, there was, 
however, already a church. This 
was the Swedes, built in 1677 of 
logs, and rebuilt in 1700 of brick. 
This venerable edifice is still 
standing in Swanson street, near 
Oiristian. The Second and Third 
street cars pass near it. The worship now conducted there 
is the Episcopal. Wilson, the ornithologist, is buried here. 

The Episcopalians were early occupants of the new city. 
In 1710 they built of wood in Second street, near to Market^ 
their first edifice, calling it Christ Church. In 1727 this gave 
way to a brick building, which was constructed outside the 
old one, the worshippers meanwhile occupying the old one. 
This edifice is still standing, an ancient landmark, of fine 
architecture and substantial— a shrine of all devout and 
curious pilgrims. It has a spire 190 feet high, which for a 
long time was the only one in the city. In 1744 a chime of 




42 THE CENTENNIAL CITY, 

eight bells, brought from England, was placed in this spire. 
During the Revolution they were removed for safety. Every 
Sabbath morning they are rung. Here many distinguished 
persons have worshipped, among them Washington. Here, 
too, some of them — Robert Morris, the great financier of the 
Revolution, Bishop White and others — lie buried. This 
interesting relic of the past is open every Wednesday and 
Friday at ii o'clock, A. M. There are now about ninety 
Episcopal churches in the city- 
One of the early and most famous Episcopal divines in the 
city was William White. He was educated at the University 
of Pennsylvania, and took charge of Christ Church in 1772. 
In 1777 he was Chaplain of the Continental Congress. In 
1786 he became Bishop of Pennsylvania. Previous to the 
Revolution the Episcopal Church in America had been 
governed by the Bishop of London. But now William 
White, of Pennsylvania, and Samuel Provost^ of New York, 
went over to England and obtained orders as Bishops in 
their respective States. He died in 1836. When the British 
evacuated the city, he was the only clergyman of his order 
in Pennsylvania. Jacob Duche, who was an assistant in 
Christ Church, and a Chaplain of Congress, who offered the 
first prayer made in that body, which was urged by Franklin 
and knelt at by Washington, had turned Tory and retired to 
England. A monument commenorates him in another Epis- 
copal Church, St. Peter's, Third and Pine. He ministered 
there once. Commodore Stephen ^Decatur lies buried in 
this church-yard. 

The first Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia was built on 
Market street, between Second and Third, in 1704, six years 
before Christ Church was. Here it stood until 1822, when 
it was removed to Washington square, corner of Seventh 
street. This latter edifice has been made famous by the 
ministrations there, through forty years, of the celebrated 
Albert Barnes, who was born in Rome, N. Y., 1798, educated 
at Hamilton College, N. Y., and Princeton Seminary, N. J., 



CHURCHES AND CHURCH INSTITUTIONS. 



43 



and settled as a pastor first in Morristown, N. J. He 
removed in 1830 to Philadelphia, becoming one of the strong 
Anti-slavery men of his times, largely involved in the con- 
troversy which rent the Presbyterian Church into old school 
and new, in 1838 — an author of popular commentaries on 
the Scriptures. He died in 1870. The second church of 
the Presbyterians in Philadelphia grew out of the labors of 
Whitfield. It was, according to the phraseology of the day, 
a New-Light Church. The third church is on the corner of 
Pine and Fourth. Here David Rittenhouse is buried. Now 
there are in the city as many as seventy-five regular Presby- 
terian Churches, and twenty-five additional of other branches 
of the order. In connection with the Bethany Presbyterian 
Church is the largest Sunday School in the country, corner 
of Bainbridge and Twenty-second streets. 

The first Dutch Church in Philadelphia was erected in 
1750. A curious story is told in connection with this church. 
A quarrel arose between two ministers, each of whom con- 
tended for the pulpit. One out-generaled the other by 
getting into the pulpit Saturday evening and staying there 
all night. There are several Continental Churches in the 
city. The Lutherans number about thirty and the Moravians 
four. The Swedenborgians are represented. The first 
Moravian Church, built in 1742, corner of Broad and Race 
streets, was founded by the famed Count Zuzendorf. This 
church is now on Franklin and Wood streets. 

The Baptists commenced their career in the city cotem- 
poraneously with the Presbyterians. Their first preacher 
was Joseph Watts. He preached in a warehouse, corner 
of Chestnut and Second streets, as early as 1698. The first 
meeting house of this denomination was on Second street, 
near Arch. The congregation moved some twenty years ago 
to the corner of Arch and Broad streets. There are fifty 
Baptist Churches in the city now. 

The first Methodist preaching in the city was in 1769. It 
was by Joseph Pilmore, who had been sent here on a mission 



44 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 



by John Wesley. He was a field preacher. So greatly have 
these people increased since, that they now number ninety 
congregations. 




The Congregationalists have only three churches in the 
city The^'universalists have three, and the Unitarians 
two. Joseph Priestly founded the first of the latter. There 
are eleven synagogues of the jews. 



CHURCHES AND CHURCH INSTITUTIONS. 45 

The first Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia, founded 
in 1732 and built in 1773, was St. Joseph's, on Willing's alley, 
between Third and Fourth streets. Here Bishop Hughes 
officiated while yet a priest. The cathedral of this church 
is on Eighteenth street, fronting Logan square. It was com- 
menced in 1846 and finished in 1864. Its dimensions are, 
width, 136 feet; depth, 216 feet; height, 210 feet. It is the 
finest cathedral in the United States. There are now over 
forty Catholic Churches in the city. 

The Friends are numerous in Philadelphia, more so than 
anywhere else in the country. They have fifteen congrega- 
tions. The division which began with Elias Hicks in 1827 
still continues; and the Orthodox and the Hicksites are 
about equally divided — the Orthodox rather preponderating. 

Of all denominations, there are nearly 500 churches in 
the city. Most of the meeting houses are plain but sub- 
stantial. Some, however, are gorgeous and imposing. On 
each of three of the corners of Arch and Broad streets there 
stands a church — a Baptist, a Lutheran, and a Methodist, the 
aggregate cost of which has been over half a million dollars. 

Religious societies are numerous in Philadelphia. Some 
of them national and some of them local. There is the Sunday 
School Union : it had its origin here as a local institution, 
but in 1824 it became the American Sunday School Union, 
a national organization. On Arch street, above Tenth, the 
Methodists have a book-room. On Walnut street, west of 
Broad, the Baptists, and on Chestnut street, east of Broad, 
the Presbyterians, have their Publication Societies. 

One of the curiosities of the past, of which a trace still 
remains, is the building erected corner of Arch and Fifth 
streets. It is now occupied as the Apprentices' Librar}^ 
but it was originally built for and by the Free or Fighting 
Quakers of the Revolution. An inscription in this building 
readSj^^'By General Subscription. For the Free Quakers. 
Erected A. D. 1783. Of the Empife 8." 



CHAPTER IX. 
Schools and Colleges. 



ft 



)~Whe first school established in Philadelphia was in 1683. 

[ It was a private one, taught by Enoch Flower. In 
1689 the Friends founded a public school. Later, 
Penn made provision for a number of such. The charter for 
the first one was given in 1697. On the foundation he estab- 
lished, one exists on corner of Twelfth and Cleren streets, 
near Chestnut, in connection with the Orthodox Friends' 
Meeting House. 

Pennsylvania has a common school system, the law of 
which, as passed in 1834, and amended in 1836, is still the 
law. Philadelphia, ever since 18 18, has had a special law. 
There are now upwards of 450 public schools in the city, 
with over 1,600 teachers, and 90,000 pupils. There are forty 
night schools, 

A High School was established in the city in 1741, It 
was located on Fourth street, between Market aad Arch, 
and was known as the City Academy. This place had been 
originally built for the preacher Whitfield, as a preaching 
place. 

The first female seminary, of which there are now many, 
and fine ones, was established in 1795- 

A teacher of some celebrity, in the middle of the last 
century, was Robert Proud. He taught in the Quaker 't 
schools for some fifty years. He was an author too. In 1791 
he published a history of the commonwealth. More noted 
than he has been Lindley Murray. His grammar of the 
English language became very popular, coming into extensive 
use both here and in England. He was educated in Phila- 
delphia. 



SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. 47 

The Episcopalians support a free academy; and to some 
extent the Catholics maintain parochial schools, free. 

In 1791 the Friends established Sunday Schools to promote 
secular learning. 

Commercial Colleges, and other technical schools, and 
Sunday Schools for religious training, add much to the 
facilities for learning. 

The University of Pennsylvania has its seat in Philadelphia. 
This institution dates its origin from 1750. Foremost in 
founding it was Franklin. Its beginnings were that of a 
charity school and academy, and in the house erected for 
Whitfield. In 1753 the Proprietaries granted it a charter, 
with land and endowments. The first commencement was 
in 1755, when six young men graduated, among them Francis 
Hopkinson, who afterwards was a signer of the Declaration. 
In 1779 it was promoted to the dignity of a University. It 
is one of the oldest colleges in the country. During the 
Revolution, several estates were confiscated, and the institu- 
tion was endowed by this means to the extent of ^1,500 a 
year. In 1798 the buildings erected for a residence for 
General Washington, with the grounds, were purchased by 
the trustees, and re-modelled and fitted up for the purposes 
of the college. In 1829 these structures were replaced by 
new ones. In 1872 this location was abandoned altogether, 
the property disposed of to the General Government for a 
Post Office, and their new buildings, erected at the junction 
of Thirty-sixth, Locust, and the Darby road, were taken 
possession of. The main building here is of serpentine 
marble, four stories high, 260 feet long and 100 feet deep, 
and contains recitation rooms, chapel, library and reading 
rooms, museums, society halls, &c. — every requisite of a city 
college. It stands in the midst of six acres of ground, and 
has cost over .$230,000. Four departments now exist — art, 
medicine, law and the natural sciences. The institution is 
rich in real estate, and in endowments and personal property. 
In common with other colleges, it has of late been the 



48 



THE CENTENNIAL CJTY. 



recipient of large endowments, most noted of which is that of 
Mr. Towne for scientific purposes. The number of students 
is about 240; in all the departments nearly I'ooo. 

One of the great literary institutions of the city is Girard 
College. It is a charity school as well. The founder, 
Stephen Girard, left a very large amount of property to 
estabHsh, endow and increase it. The trust was committed 




GIRARD COLLEGE. 



to the city. The foundation was laid in 1833, Nicholas 
Biddle, the great banker, conducting the ceremonies. It was 
completed for occupation in 1848. The main building is 
169 feet by III feet, and 97 feet high, constructed entirely 
of marble. Surrounding it are thirty-four columns, six feet 
in diameter, and fifty-five feet high. The roof, which is of 
marble, weighs nearly t,ooo tons. It stands high above all 
surrounding edifices, in the midst of forty-five acres of 



SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. 49 

ground, in the heart of the city, and is surrounded by a stone 
wall ten feet in height. It is a conspicuous object from afar. 
On the grounds are five other buildings. Mr. Girard lies 
buried here, and a mausoleum and statue, in the vestibule of 
the main building, marks the spot. A fine monument to the 
Union soldiers, who fell on the field of battle, and who were 
inmates of the institution, is erected on the grounds. Poor 
male orphan children, between the ages of six and ten, first 
from the old city, next from other parts of Pennsylvania, and 
then from New York city, in the order of their application, 
are eligible to the benefits of the institution, which are an 
education and all other expenses, free, for eight years, when 
the children are to be bound out to some suitable trade or 
occupation. Some 550 children are now thus provided for. 
But the estate left in trust has been so well managed, that, 
notwithstanding the large annual cost of sustaining the insti- 
tution on its original foundations, surplus funds accumulate, 
which are employed for strengthening ^or extending the 
college. It is located on Ridge avenue, one mile from 
where that avenue commences, corner of Ninth and Vine 
streets. Priests and ministers of the gospel are prohibited, 
on any pretext whatever, from entering the grounds. For 
all others, tickets of admission may be obtained at the office 
of the Ledger^ Chestnut and Sixth streets. The Ridge 
avenue cars pass the institution. Provision is now being 
made whereby a thousand children v/ill henceforth be accom- 
modated. 

There are several theological seminaries. Catholic, Epis- 
copalian and Lutheran ; also other colleges, as Hanerford 
and Swarthmore, the two latter under the control of the 
Friends, the one by the Orthodox and the other by the 
Hicksites. These are all situated either in or close by the 
city. 



CHAPTER X. 

Hospitals and other Charitable Institutions. 

H^HiLADELPHiA lias always been full of good-will and 
I cheer for the poor and unfortunate, the needy and 
helpless, of every description. Hospitals, Asylums, 
Homes, &c., for various persons and ends, under varied 
auspices, and in scattered localities, abound. Funds Have 
been bequeathed, or are contributed annually out of the 
State and City Treasury, and by citizens and the church, 
and other organizations, in large amounts, for these objects. 

The Pennsylvania Hospital, one of the first and foremost 
of these, was founded in 1759, and was opened first in the 
residence, on Market street, of the prime mover of the enter- 
prise. Dr. Thomas Bond. In 1755 the corner stone of its 
present location, the block bounded by Spruce and Pine, 
Eighth and Ninth streets, was laid by John Kay, the first 
white man born in the city. The east wing was completed 
in 1756. The west wing was not erected until 1796, The 
centre was built last, and m 1804. Franklin aided much, by 
funds and influence, in its inception. The British Govern- 
ment, in 1773, gave it ^12,000. Samuel Coates, a famous 
merchant of the city, and Stephen Girard, also did much for 
it. Patients of whatever nationality, and in m.any cases 
gratis, subjects of accident, or needing surgical operations, 
are admitted. About 200 can be accommodated. Visitors 
are received every day after to o'clock, A. M., except Saturday 
and Sunday, A statue of William Penn stands opposite the 
main front, on Pine street- A chair, usually occupied by 
Penn when at his residence at Bloomsbury, is preserved 
here. Benjamin West's famous painting, " Christ healing the 
sick," is the property of the institution, and has been on 
exhibition by the trustees for a small fee several years. 



HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 51 

Besides the Pennsylvania Hospital there are several others 
in the city. The Homeopathists have one. So has the 
Women's College. Another, founded long ago by Dr. Kears- 
ley, and enlarged by Joseph Dobbins, is under the special 
care of Christ Church. It is intended for women, and is in 
West Philadelphia, near the Centennial Buildings. A still 
more extensive one, under the same auspices, exists of more 
recent date. The University of Pennsylvania has an hospital 
of its own. On Race street, opposite Logan square, is a 
hospital for diseases of the eye and limbs. It is called Wills', 
after James Wills, a grocer, who gave to the city $to8,ooo, 
which by interest before use was increased to $120,000, for 
its purposes. There are also several dispensaries for the 
distribution of medicines ; the first of which was founded in 
1786. In all there are about fifty hospitals and dispensaries 
in Philadelphia. 

An asylum for the insane was established in 1 751 as part 
of the Pennsylvania Hospital. It was the first in the country. 
William Young Birch, to whom a memorial has been erected 
in Laurel Hill, left to promote the welfare of this unfortunate 
class $180,000. Since 1830 this asylum has been lifted into 
greater prominence. In 1841 it was located in West Phila- 
delphia, on an estate of 113 acres. The cost of the 
establishment there has been $600,000. It is commonly 
designated as Kirkbride. There are two buildings, one for 
males the other for females. Five hundred can be accom- 
modated. The grounds have their entrance on the Hanerford 
road, and extend from Forty-second to Forty-ninth street. 
Visitors are admitted by permits, to be obtained at the Ledger 
ofiice. Chestnut and Sixth streets. The Market street cars 
conduct thither. Another insane asylum was established 
in 1817. It is located in that part of the city known as 
Frankford, and is under the care and patronage of the Friends. 

An asylum for the deaf and dumb was projected in 1820. 
It had its origin in the efi'orts made for these unfortunates 
by David G. Seixas, an Israelite. The building for their 



52 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 



use is situated on Broad street, corner of Pine, and was first 
opened in 1824, In 1875 it was greatly enlarged. Pupils 
are admitted if they have attained the age of ten years, and 
are allowed to remain six years. The cost of each pupil for 
a year is less than ^300. This includes everything. Children 
of Pennsylvania are chiefly provided for. But Delaware, 
Maryland, and New Jersey children are admitted. Exhibi- 




KIRKBRIDE. 



tions, to which visitors are received, occur on Thursday 
afternoons from three to six o'clock. There are between 200 
and 300 pupils here now. 

On Race and Twentieth streets stands the Pennsylvania 
Institntion for the Blind. It was founded in 183% and can 
accommodate about 100 pupils. 

Several orphan asylums exist. Besides Girard College, 
prominent, and among the earliest in the city, is St. Joseph's, 



HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 53 

under the care of the Sisters of Charity. It was opened in 
1817. 

The United States Naval Asylum was founded in 1835. It 
was built, and is supported, by a small levy made upon all 
seamen. It is intended as a refuge for unfortunate and 
superannuated seamen. Its cost was some $300,000, and it 
accommodates about 300 seamen. It is situated on Gray's 
Ferry road. Adjoining is the United States Naval Hospital, 

Homes for, various classes are scattered about the city — 
as, for Little Wanderers, Colored People, Children, Aged 
Men and Women, Soldiers, and others. 

The City Alms House, situated in Bleckley, near the right 
bank of the Schuylkill, is an immense affair, capable of 
accommodating over 3,000 persons. It stands in the midst 
of I So acres of land, ten of which are devoted to the build- 
ings. There are usually here in summer about 1,500 persons, 
and in winter 2,000. Mechanical operations are carried on. 
The property is valued at J3, 000, 000. A hospital and insane 
asylum, called the Philadelphia, and the oldest in the country, 
1732, and the largest, are connected. The Walnut street 
cars run there. The Friends have an alms house of their 
own. 

An institution which has done much for the alleviation of 
human suffering, is the Prison Society. It was founded in 
1787. A complete reform in the penal code has been brought 
about by it. One of its chie^ workers was Samuel T. Hopper, 
who lived from 177 1 to 1S52, He is well known in history 
in this connection, and also as the friend of the colored man, 
and of mankind in general. 

Several other benevolent societies exist — as the Saving 
Fuel, the Magdalene and the Humane Society, &c,, &c; all 
of which testify to Philadelphia as the city of brotherly love, 
not merely in name but in reality. 

One of the most recent benevolent societies is the one 
organized m 1S69 to provide fountains for the refreshment 
of man and beast. They i)lanted their first one in Waiuut 



54 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

Street, opposite Seventh. Since then upwards of seventy 
have been established. At these, in the course of twelve 
hours, as many as 35,000 persons and 13,000 horses have 
been known to stop and drink. 

There are about a dozen soup houses in the city, open 
chiefly in winter. There are altogether some fifty Homes 
and Asylums, forty Relief Societies, and forty other benevo- 
lent organizations, each under different supervision and 
patronage, and for various persons and objects. 



CHAPTER XL 
Mutual Aid Societies and Aid Funds. 

OF the Mutual Aid Societies of Philadelphia, the Masons, 
perhaps, hold the first rank. The first lodge estab- 
lished in the city was in 1732. Now they are very 
numerous. There are over seventy lodges. The new Masonic 
Temple, corner of Broad and Filbert streets, attests the 
wealth and strength of the order. This edifice is one of the 
most imposing in the city. It is built of granite, all hewn 
at the quarry, and is the finest owned by the order in the 
world. Its dimetisions are 150 feet front by 250 feet depth, 
and it is ninety feet high. Its foundations were laid thirty 
feet below the level of the street. Ten million brick were 
used upon the inner masonry. A tower surmounts the 
building, 230 feet from the ground. Its porch of entrance is 
marvellous. The interior corresponds. As an exemplifi- 
cation of ancient art and costly magnificence it is wonderful. 
It is entirely fire-proof. The whole cost has been $1,500,000. 
Previous to the Masons occupying this last and grandest of 
their homes, they occupied a building on Chestnut street, 
between Seventh and Eighth streets, itself a very fine edifice, 
erected in 1809. 

Other similar societies in the city are the Odd Fellows, 
with their 130 lodges and Hall on Sixth street, near Race; 
the United Order of American Mechanics, with its forty-four 
councils ; also some national societies, as the St. George's 
and the St. Andrew's. Besides the above, there are from 
three to four hundred secret societies in the city of various 
orders. 

Aid funds also exist. An example is the Franklin Fund, 
which is not yet available, but will be in a few years. Franklin 
left $4,444.44 in trust of the city, to be put out for one hun- 



56 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

dred years to accumulate. A jmrt of it is then to be lent out 
to young unmarried artificers; and tlie remainder is to be 
put out another hundred years U accumulate, when it is ail 




MASONIC TEMPLE. 



to be given to the Government of the City or of the State. 
Another example is the Palmer Fund. James Palmer, an 
apothecary of the city, has recently left a sum of money in 



MUTUAL AID SOCIETIES AND AID FUNDS. 57 

the hands of trustees, a part of the interest of which is at 
once to be devoted to the purchase of coal for the poor of 
the city in winter. But the greater part of the interest is to 
be added to the capital until a certain sum is reached, when 
a less per centage is to be added until a certain other sum is 
reached, to wit., ^1,000,000. Then, and not till then, a 
monument is to be erected to his memory : and the whole of 
the annual proceeds of this million is to be devoted to the 
distribution of fuel among the widows and orphans, and other 
destitute and needy ones that may reside within the city. 
Other aid funds are the Girard, and some others noticed 
elsewhere. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Lawyers and Law Schools. 

^^OME of the jurists of Philadelphia of a past day have 
S^ ranked very high. There was Jared IngersoU; also, 
K. D. Ingraham, who possessed a library of 30,000 
volumes, chiefly American works or editions ; and John K. 
Kane, father of the Arctic explorer, a judge, and famous in 
this office for his decision in connection with the fugitive 
slave law ; and Nicholas Wahn, who after gaining a case 
which ought to have been given to another, retired from the 
law in disgust. 

Here, as elsewhere, young men are fitted for the law, very 
extensively, in the offices of old and experienced practitioners. 

In connection with the University of Pennsylvania is a 
law school. It has five professors and nearly one hundred 
students. The period of instruction lasts two years, and is 
made up each year of two terms of four months each. 

Philadelphia has a Law Academy, to which students are 
admitted with old practitioners, the objects of which are 
debate and argument. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Medical Men and Medical Schools. 

"^ I o city on this continent except, perhaps, New York, has 
\ produced or had more eminent medical men than 
J Philadelphia. It has been, and still possibly may be, 
the metropolis of medicine, and of the profession. In the 
schools here, and in practice, are, and have been, many 
noted men. Several books on disease and its cure, and 
inventions in surgery have emanated hence. Cases of new 
and successful treatment have occurred. 

One of the earliest of n6te in the profession was William 
Shippen. He belonged to the last century. The first medi- 
cal lectures given in the city were by him. In 1762 he began 
to lecture on anatomy, in the evening, privately, to ten 
pupils. Another noted physician in his day, and also witli 
posterity, is Benjamin Rush, He was born in 1745, and 
graduated in the arts at Princeton, N. J., in 1760. In 1769 
he became a Professor of Chemistry in the University of 
Pennsylvania, and afterwards of the Theory and Practice of 
Medicine. He stood high in society, and had an extensive 
practice. During the Revolutionary AVar he was a surgeon 
in the army. He signed the Declaration of Independence 
with his father-in-law, Richard Stockton. In 181 1 he received 
a diamond ring from the Emperor of Russia, in acknowledg- 
ment of his merits. He died in 18 13. Dr. Benjamin South 
Barton gave to America its first elementary book on botany. 
He succeeded Benjamin Rush, as Professor of the Theory 
and Practice of Medicine, in the University. William P. 
Dewees was a noted obstetrician, and the first in the country. 
He began practice as such in 1793. He was also an author 
and a professor in this branch of the profession. The first 
to describe the posterior position of the etharoid bone, with 



6o THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

the triangular bones attached, was a Philadelphian, Dr. Wistar. 
T. Hanson prepared the first and second United States 
Pharmacopoea, which were issued in 1818 and 1828. W. E. 
Horner, of the city, was the first to demonstrate that the 
epithelial structure of the small intestines was destroyed and 
desquimated in cases of cholera. Samuel George Maston 
made a collection of skulls, which have almost been without 
a parallel. At his death he had accumulated 918, which 
were deposited with the Academy of Natural Sciences. 
Joseph G. Mancrede, born in 1793, died in 1856, was the 
first to propose the Caesarian operation. Philip Syng Physick, 
a pupil of John Hunter, becam.e the father of American 
surgery. The first chair of surgery in the University was 
filled by him in 1805. A new method of extracting poisons 
from the stomach, a new treatme-nt of ulcers, venesection in 
reducing dislocated limbs, seton in ununited fractures, and a 
new cure of artificial arms, were all inventions of his, and 
successful in practice. He was the first to proclaim that 
yellow fever depended on local causes, and was not con- 
tagious. He invented the gorget, and the double canula for 
removing tonsils and hemorrhoids, and a needle for deep 
seated arteries. In 1831, being sixty-three years of age, he 
performed an operation for gravel on Chief Justice Marshall, 
who was seventy-six, removing from that eminent man over 
1,000 celculi. 

The medical school connected with the University of 
Pennsylvania, and on the same grounds with it, is the most 
ancient in America. It was begun in 1765. That year 
Dr. John Morgan delivered a course on the theory and prac- 
tice of medicine. The year following. Dr. Shippen gave a 
course on anatomy, surgery and midwifery. Other courses 
were added till it became what it now is. The number of 
students here last year was over 400. 

The Jefferson IVIedical School, located on Tenth street, 
below Chestnut, was organized in 1825 by some professors 
who had retired from the University school. It is intended 



MEDICAL MEN AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS. 6l 

by the trustees to remove from their present location to a 
more eligible one. It has been famous with great prac- 
titioners. 

In addition to these there is an Eclectic School,* a 
Homeopathic, and two Schools of Dentistry. 

There is a Woman's College, also, founded twenty-five 
years ago. It is the oldest in the United States. In 1875 
it graduated sixteen students. It is situated on Twenty-first 
street and North College avenue. 

In 1787 the College of Physicians, consisting of some of 
the most eminent in the profession in the city, was founded, 
corner of Thirteenth and Locust streets. In 1792 the 
Philadelphia Medical Society was formed. The object of 
these societies is mutual felloAvship and discussion. 

A College of Pharmacy was founded in 182 1, the object of 
which is to prepare young men for the prescription depart- 
ment in drug stores. 

Philadelphia affords unusual facilities for the study and 
practice of medicine. Hospitals are open to the student; 
clinics are held in connection wath the schools ; material for 
dissection is abundant. Museums are frequent and well 
appointed, and a great variety of cases of disease and of 
casualties are constantly occurring. 

The greatest disease of Philadelphia has been yellow fever. 
In 1793 four thousand died of it in four months. It has 
raged several times since : but of late years it has entirely 
disappeared. Cholera and small pox, also, have appeared 
here. In 1870 the latter was very virulent, and multitudes 
died of it. In general, however, Philadelphia is to be regarded 
as a very healthy city. There is a Board of Health, to whose 
vigilance the city owes much. The water supply, and Fair- 
mount and other parks, promote cleanliness and furnish 
fresh air ; while the city railroads afford abundant facilities 
for scattering the population over a large extent of territory. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Treatment of Criminals. 

H^ Pennsylvania has established a system of treatment of 
I criminals, original in itself. For a time the experiment 
of solitary confinement without work was tried. But 
this was found deleterious to society in preventing production, 
and to the individual in the mental effects wrought. At the 
present time the course pursued is solitary, or separate, con- 
finement with work. For two or three days the prisoners 
received in the prisons are kept solitary and without work. 
If after this they have shown good behavior, and have asked 
for work or for reading, they are furnished with a Bible, and 
with such work as the prison may be able to supply, and 
they are best fitted to perform. Their confinement after this 
may be entirely solitary, or with one other. No talk with the 
prisoners at large is allowed ; but each may talk with the 
officers, or with visitors. A change from the ancient system 
began to be agitated in 1815, Prominent workers in effect- 
ing a reform were Thomas Bradford and Isaac T. Hopper. 
The present system took form and was fully adopted between 
the years 1829 and 1834. 

Criminals used to be neglected by the outside world, and 
their treatment by those having them in charge was harsh. 
Now, kindness is accorded them, and attempts are made at 
their reform. And if there has been any error made in their 
commitment or trial, the Prison Society interest themselves 
in it. They also help prisoners on their discharge. The 
vanguard in this way has been led by the Friends. 

Cherry Hill, or the Eastern Penitentiary, so-called because 
in the eastern part of the State, was erected between 1823 
and 1829. It is built of brick and granite, and is surrounded 
by a wall thirty feet high. Its construction is in the radiating 
form, seven rays converging in a focal point, whence the 



TREATMENT OF CRIMIJNALS. 6^ 

keeper may behold the whole prison at one view, a form 
introduced by John Haviland, of the city, and which has 
since been extensively adopted both at home and abroad. 
It contains now about five hundred prisoners. It is situated 
in the midst of ten acres of ground, on Coates street, near 
Twenty-second. The Green and Coate street cars, running 
out of Eighth, or the Yellow cars of the Union line, running 
on Eighth and Ninth and Spring Garden, convey thither. 
Tickets of admission may be obtained at the Ledger ofhce. 
Chestnut and Sixth streets. 

Moyamensing is the city prison, built of granite, at a cost, 
with the grounds, of nearly half a million, in cheaper times 
than the present. It has four hundred cells, and a female 
department with one hundred cells. It is situated in the 
southern part of the city, on Passyunk avenue, near Tenth 
street. Cars of the Tenth and Twelfth street line, and the 
Green cars of the Union line, on Seventh street, convey 
visitors thither. 

The House of Refuge for juvenile offenders was opened in 
1828. It is supported partly by the State and partly by 
private charity. It is open to visitors every afternoon except 
Saturday and Sunday. It stands on Poplar and Twenty-second 
streets, near Girard College, and between it and the Peniten- 
tiary. The Poplar street line, the Green cars of the Union 
line, on Ninth street, connecting with the Poplar, for one 
fare. Ridge avenue cars, up Arch to Ninth, and the Green 
and Coates street line run there or near by. 

At Holmesburg, within the city limits, there was opened in 
1874 a House of Correction, so-called. It contains 2,000 
cells, and cost, with the grounds of between two and three 
hundred acres on which it stands, about $1,000,000. It is 
intended for vagrants, drunkards, and persons convicted of 
petty offences. A chapel, which hold over 2,000 persons, is 
connected. 

The first convicted criminal in Philadelphia was one 
Pickering. He was found guilty of passing counterfeit money, 
and was sentenced to pay a fine of ;^40. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Books and Libraries. 

H^ Philadelphia is largely engaged in the manufacture and 
I sale of books. It is, j^erhaps, in this respect the third 
place in the Union ; New York and Boston only 
being superior. The firm of Lippincott Sz Co. is one of the 
largest book making and book selling establishments in the 
world. Their store on Market street, and their printing 
office and bindery on Filbert street, are wonders in extent and 
arrangement. 

Previous to the Revolution the business of book publishing 
had been an extensive one, for so new a city, in so new a- 
country. Not fewer than four hundred and fifty separate 
publications of books had been issued down to that time. 

Paper, without which the printing of books were, perhaps, 
an impossibility, was early and extensively manufactured in 
and about the city. William Rittenhouse established the first 
within the present bounds of the city, on the Wissahickon. 
Franklin interested himself in the paper manufacture. 

Type casting, too, was early carried on here. C. Sower, 
besides being a printer and binder, was also a paper maker 
and type founder. He was the forerunner of L. Johnson & 
Co. (now McKellar, Smiths & Jordan,) who have become the 
largest type founders in the country, and in the world, per- 
haps. It is the oldest firm of the kind in the United States, 
dating back to 1796. 

The first printing office in Philadelphia was established in 
1 686 by William Bradford. At this period there were only 
two other printing presses in the Colonies, one in Boston, in 
connection with Harvard University, the other in New York. 

William Bradford was the first in the Colonies to issue a 
proposal to print the Scriptures. This he did in 1688. An 



BOOKS AND LIBRARIES. 65 

attempt was made in 1746, by C. Sower, to publish them; 
but it was unsuccessful, being branded as a false issue. In 
1782 Richard Aii^en printed the first edition of the English 
Bible in Philadelphia. It was a venture that proved a loss. 
In 17 93 C. Sower published the first quarto edition of the 
Scriptures issued in the provinces. It was a German one, 
containing 1,284 pages. 

Lindley Murray issued here, in 1795, the first edition of 
his English Grammar. Thomas Paine issued here, in 1775-6, 
the first edition of " Common Sense," and later, " The Crisis." 

Charles Brockden Brown, author of " Arthur Merryn " and 
"Jane Talbot," and over twenty other works, belonged to 
this city. 

The Philadelphia Library is the chief public one of the 
city. It was originated in 1731 by Dr. Franklin and a few 
others, who combined their own books, and so formed its 
nucleus. In 1790 the building, which it still occupies, on 
Fifth street, corner of Library, opposite Independence square, 
was erected. In 1791 the Loganian Library, a collection 
chiefly of classical works, made by James Logan, confidential 
secretary of William Penn, was added. Other libraries have 
from time to time been absorbed in this ; among them that 
of James Cox, by profession a drawing master. He was a 
notable collector of books. Eventually, he transferred his 
whole collection, amounting to 5,000 volumes, in considera- 
tion of a life annuity of $400, to the Library Company, 
There are some rare, curious, and valuable books in this 
library, among which is a Latin Bible, written in 10 16, 
presented it by one of the Vauxes. The whole number of 
volumes in the library is about 100,000. These are free to 
everybody coming to the rooms ; but can be removed only 
on payment of a fee of membership. The rooms contain a 
clock which is at least two hundred and twelve years old, and 
which is said to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell : alsO; one 
which belonged to William Penn ; also, several sketches of old 
Philadelphia. The building is open every week day. Over 



66 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

its entrance is an Italian marble statue of Franklin. This 
library is the mother of North American subscription 
libraries. A large fine library building has been erected, 
on Broad, Carpenter, Christian and Thirteenth streets, out 
of fundsleft by Dr. Benjamin Rush, amounting to over a 
million dollars, and which is intended to accommodate this 
library with a safe and permanent home and endowment, if 
they choose to accept it with conditions imposed — as, that it 
be called the Ridgway Library, after the maiden name of his 
wife, and Philadelphia's great millionaire. 

There are several other libraries of note — as that of the 
Natural Science Academy, the Mercantile on Seventh street 
between Chestnut and Market, and that of the Historical 
.Society on Spruce street, which contains 17,000 volumes 
i'esides a large number of manuscripts. 

Altogether, in the public and private libraries of the city, 
it is computed that there are over 3,000,000 volumes. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
Newspapers and Newspaper Men. 

¥HE first Newspaper issued in Philadelphia was Decem- 
ber 22, 1719. It was a weekly called the "Mercury," a 
half-quarto sheet, the subscription price of which was 
10 shillings a year. 

The first daily published in the City was in 1723. It lived 
but a short time. 

Franklin was publisher and editor of a newspaper. 

At the time of the Revolution several papers were pub- 
lished. Both the patriot cause and the tory was represented. 
Newsboys offered the papers in the streets, calling attention 
by a horn. 

In 177 1 the "Pennsylvania Packet or General Advertiser," 
was started as a weekly, by John Dunlop. In 1784 a daily 
edition was issued, which became the first daily in the 
United States that lived. In 1801 the " True American " was 
issued. This and the " Packet " were eventually united. In 
1819 they both became joined to the " United States Gazette," 
which had been established in 1791- After this, the "United 
States Gazette" was connected with the "North American." 
These papers are represented to-day by the " North American 
and United States Gazette," one of the ablest papers in 
the city. Its proprietor and editor is Morton McMichael, 
a man prominent in the affairs of the city as well as in news- 
paper circles. It is the commercial paper of the city. 

The "Evening Bulletin " is the oldest and the best of the 
the evening papers. 

The " Ledger " is the paper that has the largest circulation ; 
about 100,000 copies are issued daily. It is crowded with 
advertisements, and like most of the papers of Philadelphia, 
is sold at a low figure. George W. Childs is its editor and 



68 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 



proprietor; a man about 47 years of age. In 1849 he was a 

member of the publishing firm now known as Peterson & 

Brothers. In 1864 he became owner of the "Ledger." 

The " Press " is a republican paper. It was established in 

1857 by Colonel J W. Forney, a Pennsylvanian of Lancaster. 

He was first a democratic politician and clerk of the Senate. 

In i860 he went over, taking his paper with him, to the 

republican party, Mr. Forney i.s 59 years of age. 

There are several other papers in the city worthy of notice. 

The " Inquirer " is one such. It always contains the news, and '■' 

is ably edited. The "Times " also, owned and edited by Col. 

McClure, is an independent paper, and with a larger circulation 

than almost all tlie other papers combined. 

The Printing Press was invented in 1420. An improve- l 

ment on this was the Clymer, called also the Columbia, made i 
in Philadelphia in 1815. It was specially useful for a while f 

in the multiplication of newspapers. By means of it, 250 1 
sheets could be worked off per hour; a great achievment | 
for the times. ^ 

Some of the finest and largest business establishments in I 
the city are the newspaper ones. Such are the "Ledger," the ! 
"Press," the "Times" and the "Evening Bulletin;" all of j 
which are on Chestnut street. j 

By early and fast trains the New York papers are brought 1 
into competition with Philadelphia. Several thousands of 
them arrive at an early hour and are circulated. The I 
effect is to stimulate the home papers, and probably augment 
their circulation. f 

The more prominent magazines of Philadelphia are " Lippin- 
cott's," "Godey's," "Peterson's" and " Penn Monthly." 
These are all issued twelve times a year. In 1741 Franklin I 
issued a monthly magazine, which lived, however, only six 
months. In 1813 AV^ashington Irving started one called the 
"Auelectic," which too, soon went the way of all the earth. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



I Societies for the Promotion of Science and 
j Useful Knowledge. 

I VxYhe American Philosophical Society was founded in 
j j 1743 by Franklin. In 1785 they erected a building for 
themselves on Fifth street corner of Chestnut ; a part 
of which they still occupy, leasing the remainder to the city. 
Here they have a library, and a cabinet of mineralogy and of 
fossils ; and here they hold meetings for mutual improvement, 
and for extending generally the boundaries of knowledge. 

Thomas Godfrey was connected with this society. He 
was by occupation a glazier, and in this calling, glazed the 
windows of the State House, whose panes were, according to 
the style of those days, set in lead. While pursuing his work, 
he one day accidently noticed an effect of the sun's rays falling 
on glass, which circumstance led him to the invention of the 
(Quadrant, an instrument now used at sea by all sailors, and 
which is invaluable to them in determining their exact position, 
Hadley, an English optician, acting on a similar hint, invented 
the Quadrant about the same time. But Godfrey obtained 
the clue and perfected his instrument two years before 
Hadley did. The Royal Society of London gave him a 
reward for his discovery. He died in 1789, aged 59 years. 
When Laurel Hill Cemetery was opened, in 1836, his ashes 
were exhumed from where they had been laying 47 years, 
and deposited on an eminence at the right, just within the 
main entrance, where a monument, embracing a statue with 
a quadrant in his hand, commemorates his services and 
perpetuates his memory. 

Another member of this society was David Rittenhouse, 
who was the first who observed the transit of Venus. This 



yo THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

he did on January 3, 1769. So overpowered was he on 
making successful observations of the phenomenon, that he 
immediately fainted. He was working under the auspices of 
the society. He is buried in the yard of the Third Presby- 
terian Church on Pine and Fourth streets. 

Another name honorably connected with philosophy and 
science, and this society in Philadelphia, is that of Robert 
Hare. To him the world is indebted for the Oxyhydrogen | 
blowpipe, the Calcium and the Drummond lights, improve- 1 
mentsin the Voltaic pile, and the invention of the Deflagrator. ' 

Charles Pierce is another name shedding lustre on philo- ' 
sophical and scientific pursuits and the society. He was a | 
very pains-taking man. An accurate record was kept by . 
him of the weather, from January i, 1793, to January i, 1S47, 
which is invaluable in a meteorological point of view; the 1 
results of which have been compiled and published in a I 
book. 

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania which has its seat j 
in Philadelphia, is one of great interest. It is doing a good 
work in perpetuating the history of the past. It has a I 
valuable library and a museum of curiosities. Some of the I 
latter are connected with the early history of the city and 1 
are highly entertaining. They have a building for their I 
purposes on Spruce street, between Eighth and Ninth, on the j 
Pennsylvania Hospital block. It is open to visitors, free. | 

The Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 1805 ; the Academy I 
of Natural Sciences, founded in i8t2; the Franklin Institute | 
which has its office at No. 15 South Seventh street, are other 
societies promotive of useful knowledge, taste and industry. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Commerce of Philadelphia. 

-j NTiL the war of 1812, Philadelphia occupied the first 

I J place as a commercial depot. After the war was over 

it began to decline. Lately it has shown signs of 

recuperation. She is to-day second, only, of American ports. 

The imports at Philadelphia last year were J2 6,000,000, 
Her exports were ^25,000,000 in value. 

The first shipment of American cotton goods to China was 
made from Philadelphia. This was by Samuel C. Archer & 
Co., soon after the war of 181 2. This firm by trade with the 
East Indies is said to have made annually a profit of over 
$100,000. 

Opportunity for an extensive commerce, both foreign and 
domestic, is great at Philadelphia. By the Delaware it con- 
nects, through the ocean, with the whole outside world- By 
a system of canals and railroads, it has access to the interior 
of the whole country. Over New York it has an advantage, 
in the cheaper handling of goods which it affords. 

Philadelphia, by the route of the Delaware, is something 
over one hundred miles from the ocean. To Europe, excepting 
to ports on the Mediterranean, she is a trifle more distant 
than is Boston or New York. But she is as close to China 
or Japan as any of her rivals ; while to the great West she is 
equally as near. 

The waters of both the Delaware and Schuylkill are deep 
enough to admit the largest vessels, even up to the wharves. 
And the available river front is so large that much of it is as 
yet unutilized. 

The only solely American line of steamers to Europe leaves 
this Dort. 



72 THE CENTENNIAL CIIV. 

Large numbers of merchants, both Southern and Western, 
come to Philadelphia to buy. The variety and extent of her 
manufactures is an attraction. Her merchants import foreign 
goods direct in vessels to their own port, or by way of New 
York. 

Commerce in coal, lumber and grain, is very great in 
Philadelphia. There are very extensive coal wharves at 
Richmond, and on the Schuylkill. The Reading railroad 
alone brings to the city some 5,000,000 tons annually. At 
Richmond, and at the foot of Coates and Poplar streets, are 
the lumber depots. Near where the Navy Yard used to be 
is one of the greatest grain depots. Here is an elevator, 
belonging to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which is 
capable of elevating from 100 to 125 tons a day, and unload- 
ing 100 cars. It can load three vessels at the same time, 
depositing in them, in the course of ten hours, from 90,000 to 
100,000 bushels of grain. The building contains eighty-eight 
large circular tanks, each forty-six feet deep, and ten feet 
six inches in diameter, each of which holds, when full, 4,000 
bushels, which amount of grain and the tanks weighs 125 
tons. Besides these, it contains seventy-two angular bins, 
each capable of holding 1,300 bushels — bins and grain together 
weighing thirty to thirty-five tons. The whole building is of 
iron, and its construction now would cost half a million of 
dollars. It is used for storage only. And as the cost of 
storage here is less than anywhere else on the Atlantic coast, 
it is an inducement to bring grain to Philadelphia from the 
West. 

A new Merchant's Exchange has recently been erected in 
Second street below Chestnut, on the site of the famous slate 
roof house. In the cupola of this building the United States 
Signal Service has an office of observation. The old Exchange, 
built in 1834, was the fine marble building on the triangular 
space bounded by Walnut, Third and Dock streets, which 
building for a long time accommodated the Post Office, now 
on Chestnut, between Fourth and Fifth streets, the Chamber 



THE COMIVIICX^CE OF PHILADELPHIA. 



73 



of Commerce, now removed to the new Exchange, and the 
Board of Brokers, who still remain in the old building. 
There are Exchanges for various trades, Coal, Drugs, &c. 
Altogether there are some seven or eight Exchanges. 

The Custom House is on Chestnut street, adjoining the 
present location of the Post Office. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

The Manufactures of Philadelphia. 

Hj- PHILADELPHIA is the largest manufacturing place in the 
I Western Hemisphere, and the second in the world. 
And no wonder. Its position is central. It has ready 
access to all the material used in manufactures. Fuel and 
living and rents and building materials are cheap ; and there 
is plenty of ground for factories, and the houses of operatives. 

The factories of the city number 8,000. These employ 
150,000 persons, use $200,000,000 of capital, work up 
$200,000,000 of material, expend $60,000,000 in wages, and 
produce, in value, $300,000,000 of articles. Horse-power, to 
the extent of 75,000, is used to drive the machinery. Some of 
the largest and most important manufacturing establishments 
in the world are located here. A great variety of wares, 
from smallest things to largest, is produced. 

The rapid and great growth of the city has been stimulated 
by these manufactures ; and these were stimulated by the 
attempt of our British forefathers to force their own manu- 
factures upon the country. 

The first articles of manufacture were naturally material for 
clothing, and things needed as means to a livelihood, as 
agricultural implements ; also furniture and things pertaining 
to housekeeping. 

Teuch Coxe, who wrote a history of manufactures in. the 
United States down to 181 2, gave, by his writings, a great 
impulse to manufactures. He introduced the growth of 
cotton into the United States as a field product, and first 
suggested the raising of it as a redundant staple. Down to 
1786 it had been grown only in gardens as a curiosity. As 
yet Whitney's cotton gin, which alone could make the raising 
of cotton profitable in this country, had not been invented. 



THE MANUFACTURES OF PHILADELPHIA. 75 

But in T793 that valuable invention appeared, stimulated by- 
its necessity. Arkwright, in England, had already invented 
machinery for the manufacture of cotton into woven goods, 
and Samuel Slater had, in 1786, after some other attempts 
had failed, wrenched the secret and monopoly of it from the 
English, and introduced it into the United States. The 
manufacture of cotton goods thenceforward became an 
industry of the city. The Bridesburg Manufacturing Com- 
pany of late years have been extensive manufacturers of 
cotton, as also of woolen goods. 

Jamb stoves, forerunners of the celebrated ten-plate stoves, 
were first made in Philadelphia. It was done by C. Stower, 
in Germantown. 

Philadelphia was the first place in the country in which 
drugs and chemicals were manufactured. Samuel Wetherill 
began the business here during the Revolutionary War. 
Superiority in this branch of manufacture is still retained. 

The first shot tower in the United States was erected in 
Philadelphia. This was in 1808, near the old Navy Yard. 

One of the largest locomotive works in the world, the 
Baldwin, is located here, on Broad street, near the Reading 
Railroad Depot. Near there are the Morris Locomotive 
Works and William Seller's Machine Tool Works, both 
mammoth establishments. 

The largest gas fixture establishment, that of Cornelius & 
Sons, is located here, on Cherry street, above Eighth. The 
largest clothing establishment in the country, that of Wana- 
maker & Brown, is on Market and Sixth streets. The largest 
manufactory of dentist's instruments in the world, and of 
artificial teeth, is here, corner of Chestnut and Twelfth streets, 
carried on by S, S. White. 

One of the most extensive manufactories in the city, and 
the first of the kind on this continent, is the Saw, Tool, 
Steel and File Works of Henry Diston & Sons. The elder 
Diston came to this country from England in 1819, at four- 
teen years of age. About forty years ago he began the 



76 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

manufacture of saws in a cellar in Philadelphia. From this 
humble beginning he has added to his establishment, till now 
his place of business, on Front and Laurel streets, and 
branch at Tacony, covers eight acres, and 1,000 men are 
employed by him daily, to whom he pays weekly ^15,000 in 
wages; thirty tons of sheet steel are manufactured weekly, 
and five tons of tools daily. 

Schoonmaker's, the pioneer piano manufacturing estab- 
lishment of the country, is located in Philadelphia. It is on 
Catharine and Eleventh streets, and is capable of turning out 
twenty instruments weekly. In the Exhibition is the first 
piano they turned out, twenty-six years old, and which they 
claim is as nearly perfect as the pianos of the present day. 



CHAPTER XX. 
Monied Men and Institutions. 

H^Jhiladelphia has about fifty banks. The first was estab- 
I lished in 1781 by Robert Morris, with the patriotic 
design of helping the Revolution. It was called the 
Bank of North America, and its capital was $400,000. This 
bank at one time issued paper of the denomination of one 
penny, it is said. It is still in existence, on the south side 
of Chestnut street, between Third and Fourth. 

Ten years later, in 1791, the first United States Bank was 
incorporated, with a capital of $10,000,000. Its head- 
quarters was Philadelphia, with branches in other prominent 
cities of the Union. Alexander Hamilton was the originator. 
This bank was closed 1810-11. 

In 181 2 Stephen Girard purchased the banking house of 
the old United States Bank, on Third street, below Chestnut, 
and established unaided a bank, calling it after his own name, 
with a capital of $1,200,000. At Mr. Girard's death the 
capital was $4,000,000- Some time after, the bank failed. 
Charles A. Boker, born 1797, died 1858, resuscitated it. It 
still exists, one of the prominent institutions and landmarks 
of the city. 

The second United States Bank was established in 181 6, 
with a capital of $35,000,000. The building on Chestnut 
street, near Fourth, which is now the Custom House, was 
erected for it, from 1819 to 1824, at a cost of $500,000. It 
was not popular with the people. The cry was " hard 
money." It therefore became a strife among politicians. 
Jackson vetoed the bill for re-chartering it; and in 1832 
removed the United States deposits from it, which crippled 
it very much. In 1836 its charter expired, and it ceased to 
be, maintaining, however, its credit to the end. With it 



78 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

Philadelphia lost its position as the financial centre of the 
country, which thenceforward was transferred to New York. 

The United States Bank of Pennsylvania succeeded it, 
with the same amount of capital, $35,000,000. After a five 
years existence it failed, 1841. Nicholas Biddle, a Philadei- 
phian, born 1786, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania 
1 80 1, a commercial and literary man, who died in 1844, was 
its head during the first three years of its existence. 

In 1816 the Philadelphia Savings Society Bank, the first 
of the kind, and one of the largest in the country, was estab- 
lished. It has 40,000 depositors, and from $10,000,000 to 
$12,000,000 always on deposit. 

There are several insurance companies in the city, Fire, 
Life and Marine. The first insurance company in North 
America was established here in 1794. 

The Fidelity Safe Deposit Company, holding moneys and 
valuables on deposit, though not controlling them, is one of the 
largest enterprises of the kind in the country. Their build- 
ing is on Chestnut street, opposite Carpenters' Hal!. 

Chestnut and Walnut streets in the vicinity of Third and 
Fourth, and these latter streets in the vicinity of Chestnut 
and Walnut, is the great centre of Banks, Bankers and 
Brokers. 

Robert Morris, in middle life, was the wealthy man of 
Philadelphia of his time. He was born in Lancashire, 
England, in 1734, and came to this country in 1748 at the 
age of fourteen. One year afterward he became an orphan. 
In 1754, being but twenty years of age, he formed a co-part- 
nership with Thomas AVilling in mercantile pursuits. The 
firm existed forty years, was very successful, and Mr. Morris 
became very rich for the times. Financially, he was the 
main stay of the Revolution. He issued his own notes, in 
the cause, to the amount of $1,400,000. Before he became 
comptroller the war was costing $18,000,000 a year. By his 
prudent management he reduced expenses to $5,000,000. 
He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, 



MONIED MEN AND INSTITUTIONS. 79 

Towards the close of life he speculated, in connection with 
others, in Southern lands, to the extend of millions of acres, 
he being the responsible party. At the same time he indulged 
in the most lavish private expenditure, commencing for 
himself a marble palace, the estimated cost of which was 
exhausted before the first story had been carried up. It 
was still advanced — another story being added, and the roof 
put on. But there it stopped altogether. Eventually it was 
sold by the sheriff to William Sansom, torn down, and the 
marble and other material scattered far and near. The 
building was to have stood in the midst of the block bounded 
-by Chestnut, Walnut, Seventh and Eighth streets. Mr. 
Morris owned at one time Lemon Hill, now a part of Fair- 
mount Park, and he resided on it. From 17 95 to 1798, he 
languished, an old man upwards of sixty, in a debtors' prison. 
He died in 1806 aged 73, an insolvent man. 

Stephen Girard was the richest man of Philadelphia of the 
past. He was born at Bordeaux, France, in 1750. In 1762, 
at 12 years of age, he left his native place and went to sea, 
as a cabin boy. Gradually he rose to be a Captain of other 
men's, then of his own vessel. His first appearance in Phila- 
delphia was in 1769, where for a while he kept a small 
establishment in W^ater street. The year following he mar- 
ried. His marriage appears not to have been a very happy 
one. After twenty years living together, in 1790, Mrs. 
Girard became insane and was placed in an asylum, where 
she remained until 181 5, 25 years, when she was relieved by 
death, 16 years before Mr. Girard's own decease. They had 
only one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Girard never mar- 
ried again. His first great step towards his colossal fortune 
appears to have been in 1782, when he was thirty-two years 
of age. At this time he became owner of a lease of some 
buildings on Water street, which proved very profitable to 
him. In 1791, the negro insurrection in St. Domingo, 
occurred. On board his vessel, which was there at the time, 
some white inhabitants placed for safe keeping a large amount 



So THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

of valuables, valued at J5 0,000. These, the owners never 
appeared to redeem, having probably perished in the insur- 
rection. They therefore became the property of Mr. Girard. 
At one time of his life he was a partner with his brother, 
coming out of the partnership with 1^30,000 — his brother's 
share, of whom we hear little afterwards, amounting to double 
that sum. As he advanced in ]ife and fortune, he became 
more extensively engaged in commercial pursuits, trading 
with the East Indies as well as the West, and also with New 
Orleans, With a surplus capital on his hands, he became 
engaged also in banking. He took $500,000 worth of stock 
of the first United States Bank, and $3,000,000 of the second-^ 
besides establishing a bank of his own. During the war of 
v8i2, he was the financial stay of the Government. He 
(lied in 1831, of influenza, at his residence in Water street, 
I eaving an estate then variously estimated at from $6,000,000 
\ I) $12,000,000. A large part of this he left to the City of 
Philadelphia, in trust. The grandest disposition he made 
of his property, was in founding the College which bears his 
nime. The block and grounds bounded by Chestnut and Mar- 
k it, Tenth and Eleventh streets, was left for the support of 
t le College. There are now in the city some two hundred 
a id thirty buildings belonging to the estate. He also left 
coal and timber lands. This property, by natural increase in 
value and by prudent management, has become worth to-day 
some $50,000,000, it is said. Mr. Girard was blind in one 
eye ; in temper he was very irritable. His style of dress 
was plain. He objected to the ornamental, choosing sub- 
stantial things rather. The furniture of his house was of the 
best quality, but not chosen for show. He was generous 
when caught on the right footing, and gave away largely 
during his life time. The city will have occasion to remem- 
ber him forever. 

Another man of wealth and enterprise belonging to the 
past of Philadelphia, was Thomas P. Cope. The first line of 
packets between Liverpool and Philadelphia, was established 



MONIED MEN AND INSTITUTIONS. 8 1 

by him, in 1821, The construction of the Delaware and 
Chesapeake Canal, and of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and 
the introduction of the present water supply is largely 
owing to him. He was cotemporary with and the rival of 
Girard. Josiah White was another wealthy and beneficent 
man. He died in 1850. To him is attributed the idea of 
the Fairmount dam and water works, the introduction of 
anthracite coal in place of wood as fuel, about 1815, and 
the origination of the Schuylkill Navigation Company and 
Rolling Mills, and the Lehigh Works. 



CHAPTER XXI. 
The Mint. 

W^HERE are several Mints in the United States. The one 

I in Philadelphia is the oldest and chief. It was estab- 
lished in 1 791 on Seventh street, between Market and 
Arch. In 1829 it took possession of its present quarters on 
Chestnut street, near Broad. Here three distinct operations 
are carried on — assaying, refining and coining. There are 
six officers — an assayer, a refiner, a coiner, an engraver, an 
engineer and a master, and these have numerous employees 
under them. The first coins were made here in 1793. They 
were copper cents. Silver dollars followed the next year, 
and the year following gold eagles. 

The mill and screw, invented in France in the sixteenth 
century, is the instrument used in coining. Previous to this 
being invented, and for several years after the invention was 
made, all coins were made by means of a forge and hammer. 
This was so even in England and France down to the middle 
of the seventeenth century. Steam was first used in the 
Philadelphia Mint in 181 6. An engine is now running there 
noiselessly ; and the same has been doing so for forty years 
of working time. In 1875 a well was sunk, or bored, for the 
use of the establishment, which is 485 feet in depth. 

Nearly ^70,000,000 of gold and §15,000,000 of silver was 
deposited here in 1874 to be coined. The coinage of money 
is constantly going on. During the month of October, 1875, 
5,119,521 pieces, having a total value of $5,785,240, were 
coined. Plate and old coin, as well as gold dust and bars of 
metal, are received to be coined. But of the former not less 
than $100 worth at a time is taken. 

Visitors are admitted free every day, except Saturdays and 
Sundays, any time before noon. Besides the processes 



THE MINT. 8^ 

exhibited by an officer, visitors have the opportunity of 
inspecting the collection of coins of all ages and nations, of 
great variety and extent, and very curious, which are con- 
tained there. Some of these coins are as old as from i,ooo 
to 2,000 years B. C. 

This establishment, like all similar institutions in the other 
Governments of the world, is under the control of the United 
States Government, and is a bureau of the Treasury Depart- 
ment. 



CHAPTER XXII. 
The Navy Yard. 

/jy HE United States Navy was originated in Philadelphia 

I by Congress in October, 1785, who at that time author- 
ized two cruisers of ten and fourteen guns. Shortly 
after fifteen more, of from twenty to thirty-six guns, were 
ordered. In 1787 larger vessels were built or purchased. 
At the close of the war the remains of this navy was disposed 
of, and a new and regular system of construction and 
equipment commenced. In 1794 six frigates were ordered. 
During the war with Tripoli, at the beginning of the present 
century, the gunboat system was established. Two hundred 
and fifty were put in commission. This system was found to 
be inefficient, and was soon abandoned. During the late 
civil war iron-clad gunboats came into existence, and exten- 
sive use. 

The Navy Yard at Philadelphia was established in 1801, 
and located on the Delaware, about one and a half miles 
below Market street, on ground embracing twelve acres, 
with a considerable water front, and purchased for $37,500. 

Recently the buildings here have been torn down and 
removed, together with all their effects, to League Island, a 
piece of land about three miles long and a quarter of a mile 
wide, embracing an area of 500 acres, presented to the 
department by the Government of Philadelphia ; and situated 
at the junction of the Delaware and Schuylkill, about four 
miles below Market street. The site of the original yard has 
been sold. 

The Navy Yard has been, and probably will continue to 
be, a place of interest to visit. Here are to be seen rows of 
ordnance, stacks of balls, trophies, relics, military drill of a 
company of, perhaps, 150 marines usually kept stationed 



THE NAVY YARD. 85 

here and the various operations connected with ship building 
and navy supply, etc., etc. Admission is free, but persons 
are required to take a permit on entering the gate. Broad 
street runs there direct, and the drive thither through the 
double row of trees to be planted in the centre of this street, 
will probably be one of the most fashionable and best pat- 
ronized. No public conveyance as yet carries immediately 
there, though one line of cars runs within a few minutes walk. 
The Frigate Constitution^ which did such memorable 
service in the war of 1812, the oldest vessel in the navy> 
built in 1795, has recently been rebuilt a second time, here, 
and will be on exhibition at the Centennial. The present 
rebuilding has been done by one whose father rebuilt her 
the first time in Boston, and whose grandfather was her 
original builder. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Fairmount Park. 

W^His is the most extensive, and by nature finest city park 
I in tlie country, or perhaps in the world. There are 
only three larger anywhere, two in England and one in 
France. It is justly the pride of Philadelphia. It was com- 
menced about the same time that the present Water Works 
were. In 1812 Fairmount was purchased in the water 
interest. By gifts, as in case of George's Hill, and by 
purchase, it has been enlarged since, from time to time, till 
now it embraces some 3,000 acres, and is three times the size 
of Central Park, New York. It is situated within the heart 
of the city. Two rivers flow through it — the Wissahickon, a 
contributary of the Schuylkill, and the Schuylkill itself. Its 
boundaries are irregular, and it is much longer than it is wide. 
On the Schuylkill it lies five miles; on the Wissahickon, six. 
The former divides it into East and West Park. Nature has 
done much for it. Its surface is undulating and hilly, and 
in places it is wild and rugged. Here is the highest point of 
the city. A Board of Commissioners controls it. From one 
hundred to one hundred and fifty policemen patrol it. Funds 
are raised by general taxation for its support. $6,000,000 
have already been spent on it. As yet the Park is young. 
In time art will work in it wondrous changes. An association 
exists, the object of which is the beautifying of it with works 
of art. They have already placed within it several fine 
specimens of statuary. 

Within the Park, at its southeast extremity, are the Fair- 
mount Water Works. On the east side of the Schuylkill, and 
towards the* north, also within the Park, is Laurel Hill 
Cemetery. On the west side of the Schuylkill, on its banks, 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 87 

Stand the Zoological Gardens, and a little further west are 
the Centennial Buildings — all within the Park. 

Lemon Hill, noted as the residence of Robert Morris, the 

financial stay of the Revolution, is in the East Park, a little 

beyond the Water Works. It is now a restaurant. Further 

beyond this, on a third hill, called Sedgeley, just north of 

Girard Avenue Bridge, and on the Schuylkill, is the cottage 

which was occupied by General Grant as his head-quarters 

at City Point. In East Park, also, is Mount Pleasant, the 

residence once of Benedict Arnold and of Baron Steuben. 

jl In the West Park, on the river, and not far from Girard 

I Avenue Bridge, is the estate till recently owned by the Bar- 

j ings, of London, and once owned by John Penn, the American, 

', called Lansdowne, containing two hundred acres, and on it 

I stood, till consumed by fire a few years ago, the house built 

1 by this member of the Penn family. John Penn, his nephew, 

son of his brother Richard, built the house called Solitude, 

near by, and now incorporated in the Zoological Gardens. 

This tract of thirty-three acres, called Solitude, has been 
leased to the Zoological Society, and by them was opened in 
1874 as a garden, and for the exhibition of rare animals. 
Here is an Aviary and Bear Pits, a Deer Park, and bouses 
for Elephants, Rhinoceroses and Bisons, Foxes and Wolves, 
Monkeys and Eagles, Rabbits and Prairie Dogs, Guinea Pigs 
and Raccoons, &c., &c., &c. 

Beyond the Centennial Grounds, on an eminence, stands 
the Belmont Mansion, erected in 1745. Here Richard Peters, 
who lived during the Revolution and beyond it, a man 
eminent as a patriot, jurist, and poet, &c., lived. Talleyrand 
and Louis Phillippe and Lafayette and Washington, and 
other distinguished men, have been entertained here. The 
two latter named each planted trees here, one of which, 
Lafayette s, a walnut, is said to be still standing. The house 
is now a restaurant. Not far from this, on the river below 
the hill, stands the cottage which is said to have been the 
residence of Tom Moore, the celebrated Irish poet, during 



88 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

his residence in this country at the beginning of the present 
century 

On or near the Wissahickon is the well called the Hermit, 
dug by John Kelpins, a German Pietist, who, with forty 
followers, settled in this neighborhood some tAvo hundred 
years ago. Further up the river is the first public fountain 
set up in Philadelphia. 

Some works of art adorn the Park, and many more will be 
unveiled this Centennial year. Prominent among those that 
have heretofore existed is the statue of Abraham Lincoln, in 
bronze, by Brown. It was set up in 187 1, and is very correct 
and imposing. Mr, Lincoln is represented sitting with the 
Emancipation Proclamation in his hand. On the four sides 
of the pedestal which supports the figure are inscriptions 
which are historic. On one is recorded the gratitude due 
Mr. Lincoln : on another his good will toward the slave ; on 
a third, his resolve to sustain the Union ; and on the fourth, 
his memorable saying, beginning "with malice toward none." 
This work of art is of colossal proportions, and stands near 
the Water Works, When the Centennial is over, some of the 
buildings which have been erected for it will still remain, 
and, with their contents, contribute to the attractions of the 
Park. 

Among the works of art of the Park may, perhaps, be 
named the Girard Avenue Bridge, which connects the East 
and West Parks, It is one of the finest structures of the 
kind extant — 1,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, being wider than 
any other bridge in the world. It is built of iron, and cost 
$1,400,000. 

Admission to all parts of the Park is free to all, except to 
those parts devoted to the uses of the Centennial Exposition 
and to the Zoological Gardens. 

Two steam railroads run through the Park, the Reading 
and the Pennsylvania Central, both of which convey passen- 
gers to some part of it; the former, from Callowhill and 
Thirteenth streets, lands passengers at Belmont, in West 




THE LINCOLN MONUMENT. 



go THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

Park ; the latter, from Market street and Lancaster avenue, 
lands passengers near the Centennial Grounds, also in the 
West Park. 

Steamboats run up and down the river continually, starting 
from the Water Works and landing passengers at the Zoo- 
logical Gardens, the Centennial Grounds, Belmont, Sedgeley 
and Laurel Hill. 

The main carriage entrance is at the foot of Green street. 
But there are several others, and numerous lines of street 
cars conduct to them. The Pine, Arch and Vine street cars 
run to the Water Works entrance. The Arch and Vine also 
run to George's Hill entrance, near the Centennial Grounds, 
and by connecting cars to the Zoological Gardens. The 
Green and Coates street cars, from Fourth street up Walnut 
to Eighth, conduct to Fairmount avenue entrance. The 
yellow cars of the Union line, up Ninth street, and the Poplar 
street cars, lead to the Brown street entrance. The Ridge 
avenue cars conduct to Sedgeley and Laurel Hill, The 
Girard avenue cars to the entrance by that avenue, and to 
the Zoological Gardens. The Lancaster avenue, a branch 
of the Chestnut and Walnut street line, runs to the Centennial 
Grounds. So also does a branch of the Market street line. 

This Park began with the Fairmount purchase in 1812, 
and was increased in 1844 by the purchase of Lemon Hill; 
in 1856 by the acquisition of Sedgeley. In 1867 Lansdowne 
was acquired of the English owners. In the same year, 1867, 
George's Hill was given and added. Laurel Hill, the Wissa- 
hickon district, the Hunting Park of forty-five acres, and 
Belmont, have also been incorporated within the limits, giving 
the Park its present colossal proportions. 

Near the Fairmount Water Works are stands for carriages, 
which are ready to convey visitors over the principal avenues. 

Besides Fairmount, the city contains numerous other 
squares or parks, mostly of a few acres only. 

Near the Green street entrance of Fairmount Park, stands 
an Art Gallery, belonging to the Park, admission to which 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



91 



is free. Here is Benjamin West's celebrated Painting of 
!| Christ Rejected, also Rothernal's painting of the Battle of 

Gettysburg, which cost the State of Pennsylvania $30,000. 
i The latter has for the present at least, been hung in Memorial 
I Hall, as a part of the Exposition. 
I There are two Observatories in the Park ; one in East 

Park, the other at George's Hill. Sawyer's Observatory also 
I is in the Park, north of the Exposition grounds. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 
The Water Works. 

WELL water, as habitations increase near each other, 
becomes unfit for use. Rain supply in large cities, 
is insufficient. Their only resource is river or 
lake. In the early days of Philadelphia, it was proposed to 
supply the city from the Wissahickon. This was found to 
involve so large an expense that the Schuylkill was fallen 
back upon. 

In 1799, the scheme of furnishing Schuylkill water to the 
citizens at their residences and places of business, was devised, 
and in January, 180 1, the first supply was given. By 
steam works at the foot of Chestnut street, it was raised to 
a reservoir on Central square, and thence was distributed 
through the city by means of wooden pipes. To these works 
were added, later, another engine and reservoir at *' Faire 
Mount." 

The use of steam, however, was found to involve an 
enormous and increasing expense ; so the damming of the 
river at Fairmount, and the raising of water by water power, 
were suggested. In order to carry this scheme into effect, it 
was necessary for the city to purchase the water power of the 
river, which was now in private hands, and to make some 
satisfactory arrangement with the Schuylkill Navigation 
Company, who had a claim upon the waters. The former 
necessity was met by an outlay of ^150,000; the latter by 
building a canal of a few miles in length, together with some 
necessary locks. A dam with the other necessary works, 
water course, houses, machinery, etc., was commenced in 
181 9, by Aniel Cooley, and in 1S22 completed, at a further 



THE WATER WORKS. 



93 



cost to the city of .'$150,000. In prosecuting the work, a 
great deal of blasting of rock was required, in doing which 
$T 2,000 worth of powder was used. 

Benjamin H. Latrobe, the Father of Architecture in the 
United States, designer of the Bank of Pennsylvania and of 
the Capitol at Washington, designed the buildings of the 
Fairmount Water Works. Frederick Graff was first engi- 
neer and executor of the designs. A monument erected to 
his honor stands near the works. 

The capacity of the works at the present time allows stor- 
ing up in the reservoirs 11,000,000 gallons every twenty- 
four hours. There are eight wheels, each wheel working a 
pump. Several reservoirs are kept constantly full, except in 
occasional dry times in summer. Three reservoirs are within 
the Park itself — one the original Fairmount reservoir, another 
also in the East Park, containing 105 acres; the third on 
George's Hill in West Park. Another reservoir is on Cor- 
inthian avenue, near Girard College. It would require 
several days of unrestricted use of water by the city to 
exhaust the supply here stored up. 

The saving of the new system over the old in expense is, 
as ^10.00 per day, against at least $500. However, under 
the old system the outlay would need to be perpetually 
increased. Two men only are required to attend the 
machinery, one by day, the other at night. No fuel to feed 
the machinery is required. And the outlay necessitated for 
repairs is infrequent and small. The cost of water is thereby 
reduced to the consumer to a minimum- 
Health, cleanliness, convenience, comfort, saving of expense, 
and wealth, have followed this introduction of water into 
the city. Yellow fever fled when the water entered, and has not 
returned. Fires are by its means more readily extinguished, 
and the rates of insurance have greatly decreased. Baths, 
street sprinkling, extensive manufacturing processes have 
been made possible. Yet it was with much difhculty that 
this system was introduced. 



94 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 



There are other Water Works in Philadelphia besides those 
at Fairmount. These are the Schuylkill, Delaware, Belmont, 
and Roxborough, But Fairmount is the principal, supplying 
nearly half the whole amount of all the water consumed. 
The supply furnished by all these works combined is about 
50,000,000 gallons daily. 



CHAPTER XXV. 
The Fire Department. 

W\HE first fire engine company was formed in PhiladeU 

I phia, in 1732, at the suggestion of Dr. Franklin. 
Until lately the department has consisted of numerous 
volunteer companies, who did service at fires in lieu of jury 
or military duty. 

The present order was adopted 1857. Steam and horses 
does the work which before was done by men, and which 
required great numbers. The men and horses stand ready 
night and day to obey the first alarm, which is no longer made 
by bells, but by telegrams to the engine houses, from the 
various police stations. 

Until this new system was adopted, and especially before 
the consolidation of the county of Philadelphia into a muni- 
cipality, along with the city, in 1854, frequent serious fights 
occurred between the firemen of the different governments. 
These, as well as other grave difficulties growing out of 
separate jurisdictions in close proximity, are now happily 
avoided. 

The Fire Department of Philadelphia is under admirable 
discipline, both men and horses. The men are well paid and 
the horses well kept. The department has saved to the 
insurance companies and property holders, in connection 
with the water supply, vast sums. While no extensive con- 
flagration has ever visited the city, such as has visited New 
York, Chicago, Boston, and some other places ; fires of any 
serious extent are rare. 

The department consists of four hundred men, one hundred 
and twenty-five horses, and thirty steam engines. There are 
five thousand fire plugs, and two hundred signal alarm 
stations or boxes. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 
The Military and Defenses. 

fVy ^^ defenses of the city in the Revolutionary War were 

I from the sea, by means of Fort Mifflin, so called after 
him who was first Governor of the State, and situated 
near the junction of the Delaware and Schuylkill — and Fort 
Mercer, in New Jersey, nearly opposite, named after a general 
of the war. These were gallantly defended, but being hard 
pressed were evacuated, and are now razed. Fort Delaware 
now defends from the sea against all but iron-clads. It is 
situated on an island in the Delaware, fifty miles below the 
city, and nearly opposite the mouth of the Delaware and 
Chesapeake Canal. The city has no other forts. But the 
Navy Yard at League Island, at the foot of the city, may be 
relied on as a powerful and probably effectual barrier against 
aggression from the sea. 

A national guard exists, consisting of volunteer and uni- 
form companies. There are six regiments and a few isolated 
companies. In 1774 the first city troop was formed. It is 
the oldest in the country, formed for resistance to Great 
Britain. They have an armory on Twenty-first street, near 
Market. All the men are free from fire and jury duty. 

Philadelphia has produced many noted soldiers and navy 
men. Cadwallader, Decatur, Meade, Mercer, and other 
men of note were born here, and here lie buried, monu- 
ments being erected to their memory in the churches and in 
the cemeteries. 

There are two United States Arsenals within the city, one 
in the southern part, on the Schuylkill, near Gray's Ferry — the 
other in the northern j^art at Frankford. The latter is an 
immense affair, standing in the midst of over sixty acres of 
ground. Here all the cartridges used by the United States 



THE MILITARY AND DEFENSES. 97 

are manufactured. At the Schuylkill Arsenal, all the cloth- 
ing and shoes for the regular army is made. One of the 
curiosities of the place is the variety in uniforms which have 
attained in the past. 

Near where the Navy Yard recently was, is Sparks' Shot 
Tower, built in 1807, and on the Schuylkill, near Market, is 
Beck's, bailt in 1808. 

Military dress and equipments are manufactured by W. H. 
Horstmann, whose establishment, embracing society and 
upholstery goods, and begun in 1815, is the largest of the 
kind in the United States. 



CHAPTE,R XXVII. 
Laurel Hill and other Cemeteries and Burial Places. 

IN the midst of the city of the living, stands the greater 
city of the dead. In ahnost all parts of the early city 
are old graveyards, where lie buried the earlier genera- 
tions. Also, in some of the older churches repose the ashes 
of many — some of them of renown. In and about Christ 
church, for example, has been buried Robert Morris, Richard 
Peters, John Ashton, Bishop White, and others. In her yard 
on Arch and Fifth streets, many other noted men have 
been laid. Previous to 1815, Washington Square was used 
as a burial place. Here, in eight months, two thousand 
soldiers of the Revolution were buried. Numerous victims 
of the yellow fever were cast in here. It was the Potter's 
field of its day. 

Sanitary considerations, and the growth of the city, have 
necessitated larger burial places, and more on the outskirts 
of the city. Several which have been made beautiful by art, 
have been opened by companies, churches and societies. 

Laurel Hill is the oldest of these, and hitherto has been 
the most noted. It lies on the Schuylkill river, between it 
and Ridge avenue, and near to the Falls of Schuylkill Village. 
It was first opened in 1836, by Benjamin W. Richards and 
three others. The spot where it was commenced had been 
the country residence and farm of Judge Bouvier, an author 
of law books of repute. There is what is called north, central 
and south Laurel Hill. North was created first, and central 
last. They all now join and are under one board of directors. 
Combined they cover about one hundred acres. At the old 
and main entrance on the Ridge road, there is a columnade 
and a keeper's lodge. Just within there is a group of 
statuary, in which Old Mortality is represented reclining on a 



LAUREL HILL AND OTHER CEMETERIES. 99 

SarchophagLis, and Sir Walter Scott gazing at him. Further in, 
and up the hill is a chapel. Several persons of note have been 
buried here ; as, Thomas Godfrey, inventor of the Quadrant ; 
Charles Thompson, secretary of the Continental Congress; 
Frederick Graff, executor of the Fairmount Water Works, 
and Generals Mercer of the Revolutionary, and Meade of the 
Union Army. General Mercer, who fell in the battle of 
Princeton, was first buried in Christ Church. But in 1840 
the Saint Andrew's Society removed him to Laurel Hill, and 
erected to his memory a monument, with an historic inscrip- 
tion, near to the chapel. Monuments of great cost and 
beauty, with touching inscriptions, are erected here ; some 
of them to commemorate persons of renown, who have not 
been buried here. In North Laurel Hill is one such to 
John Fitch, inventor of the Steamboat. In South Laurel 
Hill is one to Commodore Hull. This Cemetery is now 
within the bounds of Fairmount Park, and is rendered 
thereby still more sacred to the purpose to which it has been 
dedicated. A portion from the sale of every lot has been, 
and is, set apart as a perpetual fund, for the purpose of keep- 
ing the grounds in order. The cemetery is reached by the 
Ridge avenue and Manyunk cars, and by steamboat on the 
Schuylkill. 

Another cemetery is Monumeht Cemetery; so called 
because of the monuments to Washington and Lafayette, 
erected in their midst. It was opened in 1837, and is on 
Broad and Berk streets. Other cemeteries are the Odd 
Fellows and Glenwood and Mount Vernon. All these are 
either on, or are not far from Ridge Avenue, and may be 
reached by taking the cars over that road. Cathedral 
Cemetery belongs to the Catholic Church. It is in West 
Philadelphia, on Forty-eighth street, Girard avenue and 
Wyalusing street- It contains forty-three acres and w::s 
opened in 1849. The Lancaster avenue cars run near by. 
Woodland Cemetery is in West Philadelphia toward the south, 
below the Alms House. Here is the Drexel Mausoleum, of 



lOO THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

much magnificence, and the Greble Monument, commemora- 
tive of the first officer of the regular army, a lieutenant, who 
fell in the war for the Union. The cars of the Derby; line, 
running out of Walnut street, conduct thither. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Young Men's Christian Association. 

/T\His Association, organized in 1854, to promote the 
I welfare of young men in the city, whether strangers or 
citizens, procuring for them employment, promoting 
their moral, social and religious interests, providing reading 
rooms, occasional lectures, wholesome amusement, society 
rooms, holding prayer meetings, and engaging in evangelistic 
services, have had their place of meeting on Chestnut street, 
near Eleventh. Last year, 1875, they commenced a fine new 
building for themselves on Chestnut, corner of Fifteenth 
street, which is in a forward state, and will be occupied by 
them this Centennial Year, provided only they can enter it 
without a debt. It is a magnificent building, four stories 
high, and otherwise of ample dimensions. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 
Travel to and from and about the City. 

¥HE facilities for travel to-day is in strange contrast with 
what attained a hundred years ago. Horse cars were 
then unknown. The locomotive and steamboat had 
not been invented. Canal boats even were not known at 
Philadelphia. 

In 1756 the first public stage commenced running between 
Philadelphia and New York. The fare was about the same 
as by railroad now; but the time consumed was almost as 
many days as it now takes hours, AVith the advent of the 
steamboat, and the construction of better roads, half a cen- 
tury or so later, better time was made. The first turn-pike 
made was in 1792 — the Lancaster. There are some stage 
lines still in existence. 

Thomas Paine is said to have suggested, as early as 1778, 
the propulsion of vessels by steam. But the first experiment 
in navigation by steam ever made was by John Fitch, born in 
Windsor, Conn., 1743, and forty years later a jeweler in 
Philadelphia. In 1788 he made a trial trip to Burlington, 
twenty miles up the river, in a steamboat which he had con- 
structed. The speed attained was eight miles an hour; but 
unfortunately the boiler burst, and men distrusted the 
practicability, or utility, of the invention. In 1790, however, 
he made several trips. Congress and the Spanish Govern- 
ment, both applied to, refused to aid Fitch in his endeavors 
to perfect his plans. An attempt to form a company was 
made, but with indifferent success, and Fitch's boat was laid 
up at Kensington, where it rotted. Fitch now wrote three 
manuscripts on the subject, which he gave to the Philadelphia 
Library Company, with the injunction that they should not 
be opened till thirty years after his death. In 1828 they 



TRAVEL TO AND FROM AND ABOUT THE CITY. I03 

were unsealed and read, and found to contain ideas which 
had only recently become common and popular. Fitch, 
after his failure on the Delaware, went to the Ohio, where he 
died in 1798, and was buried on the shores of what he 
predicted would become, as it has, a river of steamboats. 
Robert Fulton, who at one time followed the occupation of 
a goldsmith in Philadelphia, was the first that succeeded in 
steam navigation. This he did in 1808, on the Hudson river. 
The year following, some parties in Philadelphia built a boat 
on the Delaware, which they appropriately styled the Phoenix 
A few steamboats have since been running on the Delaware 
up as far as Trenton, and down as far as Cape May. N. J., 
and Lewes, Del., and out to sea. But this river has never 
been one of steamboats like the Hudson, Ohio, or Mississippi. 

The canals, which have contributed to the growth of Phila- 
delphia, and which her citizens have been largely instrumental 
in procuring, are the Delaware and Chesapeake, running 
across the peninsula; the Delaware and Raritan, running 
across New Jersey; the Schuylkill, the Susquehannah, the 
Lehigh, the Union, and the Pennsylvania canals, which con- 
nect with the interior of the State. Most of these great 
works, of now acknowledged utility, were accomplished only 
through much difficulty. The Chesapeake and Delaware, for 
example, was built only after fifty years of agitation. Thomas 
Gilpin began to move in it in 1769. His son Joshua followed 
in the same steps. Others took up the labor. But not till 
1 82 1 was it achieved. Its construction is largely due to the 
energy and perseverance of Paul Beck, Jr. 

In 1804 Oliver Evans, son of an early Episcopal minister 
of Philadelphia, suggested the idea of a locomotive or steam 
wagon. In 1834 the first steam railroad, of any length 
in these parts, was built by the State, running from Philadelphia 
to Columbia, on the Susquehannah, a distance of eighty-two 
miles. 

Foremost of the railways now within the State is the Penn- 
sylvania Central, running from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, a 



I04 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

distance of 354 miles. It is a double track, solid road, and 
was first opened for through travel in 1852. The company 
owning this road operate altogether some 5,000 miles, which 
they have obtained control over by purchase, or lease, or 
construction. There are continuations at both ends, and 
branches on either side, connecting thereby direct with New 
York and the West, It is the most powerful corporation in 
the country, and perhaps in the world. Before the building 
or completion of this road, connection between Philadelphia 
and the West was made to Pittsburg by means of two canals 
and two railroads. The AUeghanies were crossed by what 
was known as the Portage Railroad. 

Another extensive road, of great wealth, and of importance 
to the city as connected with the coal region, is the Reading. 
The company operates about 1,000 miles of road, running 
from Philadelphia to Williamsport, and from Allentown to 
Harrisburg. This road was opened in 1842, and has been 
managed so carefully that no passenger has, by their fault, 
been killed. The company manufacture their own engines, 
cars and rails. Their coal carriage amounts to 5,000,000 
tons annually. The Germantown and Norristown roads, 
since 1870, have been operated by this company. 

The North Pennsylvania road, the Westchester, the Balti- 
more & Washington, the Delaware, the Nev/ Yorks roads, 
the Cape May and the Atlantic City are other roads, all of 
them of importance, as tending to enrich the city, and carry 
passengers to and fro. Depots in the city, stations on the 
route, distances, &c., of all these roads, are given in an 
appendix. 

The city is of such ample proportions that passengers by 
some of the steam roads are set down within the city 
itself. This is especially the case with the Pennsylvania and 
the Reading Railways. But, except to a few special and 
distant points, the street cars, as drawn by horses, with here 
and there a dummy connection, are mainly depended on. 



\ 



TRAVEL TO AND FROM AND ABOUT THE CITY. 105 

The present system of street cars dates from r8^8. They 
have superseded the omnibus entirely. Every part of the 
city is reached by them. There are seventeen lines now 
running, employing 5,000 men and 5,000 horses, and using 
2,000 cars. The total length of track is some 250 miles. 
The usual fare, in one continuous car, is seven cents. But, 
by an arrangement entered into by several of the companies, 
by paying two cents additional, and asking for a transfer or 
exchange, a ticket is given, whereby a passenger may take 
without further pay, if used the same day, any one of certain 
specified cross roads. On some lines transfers without extra 
pay is given. These are for branch roads. Packets of 
tickets are sold at reduced rates. The Philadelphia system 
of street cars is the most extensive and complete in the 
world. They run on Sunday. The several roads, their 
termini, and the important public points on their routes, are 
given in an appendix. 

Hacks may be found at the depots, and in various other 
localities. The rates of fare, as fixed in them by law, is 
given in an appendix. 

To meet the increased demand for passengers and luggage 
conveyance this Centennial year, a company called " The 
Exhibition Transfer" has been formed. They have provided 
light carriages, and will convey individuals and parties to 
and from the Exposition, depots, hotels, and various parts of 
the city. They have an office in the Continental Hotel 
where railroad tickets are sold and baggage checked. The 
fare by these coaches is fifty cents a passenger. 



CHAPTER XXX. 
The Hotels of Philadelphia. 

/T\HE first house m the bounds of the city was an hotel. 

I This was the Blue Anchor Tavern, and stood near the 
foot of the present Dock street. The place where the 
first white man was born was then, or soon became, a tavern. 
The Letitia House was converted into one. The Slate Roof 
House too became virtually one. But the most noted public 
resort of the early times was the London Coifee House, 
southwest corner of Market and Front streets. The building 
was erected in 1702, and turned in 1754 into a place of 
public resort by the printer Wm. Bradford. Here sales of 
horses, negroes, etc., took place, and here the merchants 
largely congregated. All ship letters were brought here. 
No beverage stronger than coffee was sold. The building 
itself is still standing. These are still taverns about the city, 
reminding by their signs of AVashmgton, Franklin and the 
Eagle, etc. of the olden time. But most of them have given 
way to more modern names. 

The hotel which for some years, smce i860, has been the 
most prominent, and which still retains its prestige, is the 
Continental. It is conveniently located on Chestnut and 
Ninth streets, in the heart of the city. It contains one hun- 
dred suites of rooms besides numerous single chambers, has 
an elevator, a telegraph office, and an office is in the building 
for the sale of railroad tickets, and checking baggage. Lines 
of cars run by the door, and several others within a block or 
two. It can accommodate from 1,000 to 1,200 guests. 

Until the Continental was built, the Girard was the prin- 
cipal hotel in the city. It is still a first-class house. It 
stands immediately opposite its rival, on Chestnut street. It, 
too, accommodates about 1,000 guests. 



THE HOTELS 01^ PHILADELPHIA. I07 

Besides these two, may be enumerated as first-class, the 
La Pierre on Broad street near Chestnut, which can accom- 
modate 250 guests, and the Colonnade, on Chestnut and 
Fifteenth streets, which can accommodate 400 guests.' The 
Bingham House, on Market and Eleventh streets, is a very 
large hotel and of a good grade. It can accommodate 300 
guests. There are numerous other excellent hotels. But 
the hotels of Philadelphia are not generally very large ; nor 
are they as numerous as we should have expected them to be 
in so large a city. There are more strangers pass through or 
go to Philadelphia than lodge there. Still the hotels of the 
city, of all classes, number over one hundred. 

Most of the hotels are on the American plan. Guy's, 
northeast corner of Chestnut and Seventh streets, is con- 
ducted on the European plan, and is first-class. The 
St. Charles, on Third street, between Market and Arch, is 
on the European plan, and is a good house for gentlemen. 
Guests to the number of over two hundred can be accom- 
modated with rooms in each of these houses, and take their 
meals where they choose. During this centennial year there 
have sprung up several others on this plan. 

To accommodate visitors to the Centennial, a greatly 
extended hostelry has been projected in all parts of the city. 
The Continental has added to itself 100 new sleeping apart- 
ments ; the Girard House 150. Other old hotels have made 
similar arrangements. Whole rows of houses in different 
parts of the city are converted into hotels. One of these, 
called the Aubrey House, is on Walnut between Thirty- 
second and Thirty-third streets, and accommodates 400 
guests. Close by the Exhibition, on Belmont avenue, is the 
Globe with 1,000 rooms. In its two dining rooms over 2,000 
persons can be served at once. It is built as a temporary 
structure. Opposite is the Trans-Continental, a branch of 
the Continental. A company also has been formed who will 
sell tickets on the m-coming trains of the several roads, for 
lodgings, breakfast and supper, in private houses, or for 



Io8 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

lodgings alone. Omnibuses will be at the depots to carry 
parties to such houses. Some of the religious denominations 
have made some provision for members of their own 
communions. 

A list of these hotels will be found in an appendix, with 
their locations. 

On the Exposition grounds are some half-dozen restau- 
rants, American and Foreign. Also dairies and fountains of 
aerated waters. 

The charges at these several hotels vary according to the 
class of house, the location and size of rooms, the fare given, 
and the general accommodations. The price of rooms varies 
from $1 to $3, and even $8 to ^ro, where several beds are in 
a room ; and if board with rooms, from f 2 to $5 per day, 
and even more according to room occupied. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 
Places of Business and Residences. 

IN the earlier times business men lived where their stores 
were. But in later times business has so increased, that 
basements and several stories are required, and even two 
or more lots, where before a single room was sufficient. 
So houses for residences have been built elsewhere. 

Basements are not common in Philadelphia houses. The 
dwelling places run back rather than high ; the depth of the 
lots allowing this. Small houses are numerous. White 
marble steps, and shutters are common ; in the older style of 
residences, brick — for which Philadelphia is noted — is the 
usual material, though there are many stone and marble 
edifices. The finer residences are on Rittenhouse Square, 
and vicinity ; though other localities are not without some 
very fine specimens. West Arch street affords rare examples 
of the older class of fine houses. 

Wholesale business in Giroceries and Provisions is done 
chiefly between Walnut and Vine, on the river streets, and 
on Market ; and other wholesale stores are between the same 
streets, and back from the river. Beyond these still are the 
retail stores. Some of the places of business in Philadelphia 
are massive, large and costly. Such are those of the banks, 
insurance companies, and of other parties on Chestnut street. 
The Mutual Life Insurance Company on Chestnut, corner of 
Tenth street, is a very massive, fine edifice. Some of the 
banks are on the same street, near Fourth. Generally, how- 
ever, more account is made in Philadelphia of the amount of 
business done, and on methods of doing it, than on showy 
places in which to transact it 



CHAPTER XXXII. 
The People of Philadelphia. 

QUAKERS were the first settlers here ; and ever since, 
there have been more of this persuasion in Philadelphia 
than in any other place in the world. Hence it is 
sometimes called the Quaker City. 

During the last century numerous emigrants from the old 
countries, and even from, the other colonies came here and 
settled. Early in the century, six ships with passengers 
arrived in one week. In 1749 as many as 12,000 Germans 
arrived at the port. So great appeared the threatened 
influx, that emigration \yas discouraged for a time by a tax. 
Many Redemptioners, so called, were sent here in early times. 
These were "ticket of leave" men, convicts, the emptyings of 
foreign j^risons; but among them were many worthy men 
and men of note. James Annesley, one of them, was, by 
birth and right, a Lord. 

The inhabitants of to-day are mostly native Americans. 
But there are large numbers of foreigners — first of the Irish, 
then of Germans, next of other European nationalities. The 
Colored people number about 25,000. There are no Indians 
here now, or in Pennsylvania. The spot was originally their 
hunting-ground. They were numerous at the time of the 
Revolution, and visited the city in great numbers. But the 
last of the race here, of whom we have any trace, died in 
1803. Probably foreigners, and persons other than natives, 
make up one-quarter of the whole population. 

The Philadelphians are a benevolent people, as their nu- 
merous charitable institutions, probabably greater in number 
and variety than those of any other city of like size, attest. 
They are, generally speaking, unostentatious. Both these 
traits spring out of the Quaker element. 



THE PEOPLE OF PHILADELPHIA. Ill 

Business is done here with less bustle than in New York. 
Stores generally are opened later in the morning and closed 
earlier at night, So""Ti habits attain which are not known 
elsewhere ; as, lating 1,200 of some things no more than t,ooo, 
and driving horses tandem, an old English fashion. 

There are several Clubs of note in the city. The 
"League Club," established during the war, with a present 
membership of 2,000 persons, and a place of meeting 
costing some $200,000, on Broad street, near Walnut, is the 
principal. There are also the "Reform," on Chestnut stieet 
above Fifteenth, and the " Philadelphia," on Walnut and 
Thirteenth streets, and the "Saturday Club," which meets at 
the houses of its mem.^ers. 

There are also sporting clubs here in great variety, as 
Base Ball, Boating, Croquet, Fishing, Shooting, Trotting and 
Yachting. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Philadelphia as a Place of Residence and 
of Business. 

s a place of residence, Philadelphia is very desirable. 
Its climate is delightful. It is one of the healthiest of 
cities. Persons may live here in any style of grandeur 
or of economy. Rents are low, and the markets are abun- 
dantly and cheaply supplied. Churches, schools and places 
of amusement, are varied and numerous. Professional men 
are here in force. Everything desirable to make happy and 
promote life is attainable. The country, and other parts of 
the world, the mountains and the sea shore, are readily 
accessible. The place is city and country both. Persons of 
economical and quiet habits must travel far before they will 
find a city so adapted to them. While to those who are 
fond of these things, there is abundant opportunity for gaiety 
and display. 

As a place of business it has few equals. In manufactures 
it is without a rival in the Western Hemisphere. Other 
places may excel it in abundant water-power, but the lack of 
this is compensated in the city by other advantages. By 
persevering industry, a living and even competency may be 
attained; while the mode of doing business is such as to 
promote health, pleasure and long life. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

The Centennial Grounds, Buildings and 
Exposition. 

N exposition of the industry of all nations, to be held 
in the United States, was suggested by similar fairs 
which have been held within the last twenty years — 
in London, Paris and Vienna. The holding of it in 1876 
was suggested by the fact that during this year the Republic 
completes its hundredth year of existence. It therefore seemed 
fitting that, while each community might celebrate by itself 
the Fourth of July of this year with special eclat, and where 
there had been battles or Revolutionary events might cele- 
brate them also with pomp and circumstance, the nation as 
a whole should this year make one grand jubilee, and out of 
its unparalleled prosperity exhibit its advance, and invite the 
whole world to be present. Several parties undertook to 
inaugurate it, and several places were suggested as its seat — 
Washington, New York and Philadelphia. The latter place 
was finally selected on account of its central location, its 
facilities of access, its ability to provide for a multitude, and 
to carry them about the city, and its ample and convenient 
space in Fairmount Park for the purposes contemplated, 
and also on account of its numerous and marked Revolu- 
tionary memories. 

The General Government was petitioned to aid the enter- 
prise pecuniarily, and by an exhibit, and by its countenance 
make it an international affair, becoming the medium of 
invitation to foreign countries to participate. The Govern- 
ment complied. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, several other 
States, and numerous individuals in New York city and 
elsewhere subscribed liberally to the project. The Park 
Commissioners set apart 450 acres on which to locate the 



114 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

fair, 236 of which have been enclosed and applied. July the 
fourth, 1874, ground was first broken for the enterprise. 
May the tenth, 1S76, though not quite completed, but being 
sufficiently so, it was opened by the President of the United 
States, accompanied by suitable ceremonies, military and 
civic, of music and of speech, and in the presence of numerous 
dignitaries, home and foreign, and of the people. As many 
as 250,000 people, it was estimated, were on the grounds that 
day. The Exhibition is to be kept open until November 
the tenth. On opening day, the President of the United 
States and the Emperor or Brazil started the Corliss engine, 
which runs the machinery in Machinery Hall. Of this act 
Bayard Taylor observes, "North and South America started 
the machinery of the world." 

The management was committed to a Board of Com- 
missioners, two from each State and Territory, selected by 
the several Governors, and confirmed by the President of the 
United States. These appointed a sub-committee to manage. 
A Board of Finance also was appointed, the object of .which 
was the raising of funds. The labor which these have per- 
formed has been great and unparalleled, and all has been 
successfully done. Brains, numerous hands and millions of 
money have been employed. 

The grounds are situated on the west side of the Schuylkill, 
in that part of Fairmont Park known as Lansdowne, at the 
foot of George's Hill and Belmont. The approaches are by 
the Reading Railroad on the northeast, and the Pennsylvania 
Railroad on the south. This latter road brings passengers 
from the foot of Washington avenue on the Delaware, by 
v/ay of the Baltimore Depot and West Philadelphia; also 
from Frankford, by way of West Philadelphia, and lands 
them at the doors of the main entrances. The former brmgs 
passengers from Ninth and Green, and Callowhill and 
Thirteenth, and Richmond, landing them at Belmont Station. 
Five lines of horse cars leave the city on or near the 
Delaware, between Vine and Walnut streets, and taking 



THE CENTENNIAL GROUNDS, »8:C. 



115 



different routes cross over the Schuylkill on four different 
bridges — the Chestnut street, Market street, Callowhill street 
and Girard avenue bridges, all landing their passengers 

at the main south entrance. 
Transfer coaches leave the 
various depots and hotels and 
other places for the grounds, 
charging fifty cents a passen- 
ger. A line of omnibuses also 
runs from the Delaware and 
vicinity of Market street, 
charging twenty five cents. 
The West End Railroad Com- 
pany, of West Philadelphia, 
also run cars to the grounds. 
The charge by the railroads 
is from seven to fifteen cents; 
by the horse cars seven cents, 
and with exchange ticket for 
cross roads nine cents ; children 
half price, between four and 
fourteen years of age. 

From New York by way of 
the Pennsylvania Railroad, the 
arrangements are $4. for a 
round trip ticket, good for 
one day, and $5 for the same, 
good for fifteen days ; accepted 
on all trains except the limited 
express. Two Centennial trains 
are also run to the grounds at 
second and third class rates, ^t, and $2. Children under 
fourteen half price, under four, free. Special trains are also 
run for schools, associations, &c. The new line, by way of 
the Central Railroad of New Jersey, runs five trains each 
way ; fare one way $2,65. Round trips same as Pennsylvania 




Il6 THE CENTENNIAL CITV. 

road. Time on this road by these trains is about three 
hours. 

There are nearly two hundred buildings on the grounds, 
all of them erected within two years. Some of them are to 
remain. But most of them are to be taken down at the close 
of the Fair. Some of these buildings are very large. Others 
are splendid, substantial, costly. All of them are an orna- 
ment, useful, creditable and a study. From sixty to seventy 
acres are under roof. These buildings are arranged chiefly 
on fine Avenues — the Avenue of the Republic, Belmont, 
Fountain, Agriculture and State avenues. 

The Main Exhibition Building is i,88o feet long, 464 feet 
wide, and 70 feet high. It has corner towers 75 feet, and 
central towers 120 feet high. It is built of iron and glass, ! 
and cost over ^1,500,000, Over 5,000,000 pounds of iron 
have been used in constructing the roof, trusses and girders. 
It covers 2i| acres, and is the largest building in the world. 
There are four entrances, one on each side and end. Within 
are twelve miles of show. Over thirty countries, including 
nearly all the civilized nations of the globe, here exhibit 
themselves and their industries. The United States exhibit 
covers about seven acres, or nearly one-third. Great Britain 
and her dependencies come next, occupying about one-fifth of 
the space. Here is to be seen almost every thing that the 
globe, through the industry and skill of its men, produces, 
except what is peculiar to the other buildings. Here are 
things rare, ancient, costly and curious, and in endless variety. 
A pair of vases valued at $3,000 are here. Though the 
building is so spacious, it has been found necessary to attach 
three annexes. Gilmore's band of sixty-five performers, 
gives two concerts daily, free, in this edifice. 

Machinery Hall covers 13 acres. A Corliss Engine of 
1,400 horse power, runs the machinery through over two 
miles of shafting. There are 1,500 sections, and several 
thousand machines in this building. Here is a waterfall 
36 feet wide, 33 feet deep, and four inches thick, carrying 



THE CENTENNIAL GROUNDS, &€. 



117 



30,000 gallons per minute. On the outside of the main front 
of tills building is a clock ; and in the towers a chime of bells, 
for which Professor Widdows, the Director, has arranged a 

great many popular airs. 
Connected with this build- 
mg, are as many as eleven 
annexes. 

Agricultural Hall covers 
10 acres. There are five 
annexes to this buiidmg. 
One of these is the Porno - 
logical, where will be dis- 
played fruits and vegetables 
in their season. It covers 
two acres. A stock yard 
is also connected, which 
is near the Belmont station 
of the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road , where is an Ox of 
4,000 pound weight, and a 
Heifer of 3,300. In the 
main building is an Aqua- 
ria, and Professor Ward of 
Rochester, has a rare ex- 
hibit in Paleontology. 
Brazil displays one thou- 
sand varieties of wood. 
There are three hundred 
plows here , one, it is 
said, cost $1^000. Many 
wondertul labor-saving in- 
ventions are here ex- 
hibited, in which it is probable the United States takes 
the lead. 

Memorial Hall or the Fine Arts Building, is one of the 
most costly on the grounds. Its cost is set down as $1,125,000, 




THE CENTENNIAL CITY 



It is built of granite, iron and glass. It is 365 feet long, 210 
feet wide, and 59 feet high, surmounted by a dome 150 feet 
high, with a figure of Columbia on the top, and at the base 
colossal figures typifying the four quarters of the globe. 
Here are exhibited paintings and statuary. It affords 75,000 
feet of wall space for the former, and 20,000 feet of floor 
space for the latter. It is intended to remain after the 
Exhibition is over, and will probably be the seat of a museum, 
&c., similar somewhat to the Kensington Gardens, London. 
There are two annexes to this building. 

Horticultural Hall is the last to be mentioned of the 
mam buildings which have been erected by the Commission. 
Here are exhibited tropical and other plants- Orange and 
lemon trees, banana, sago and like trees, are here to be seen. 
Also a century plant ready to bloom. Around are thirty-five 
acres of garden. This building also is intended to be 
permanent. 

Another great building is the one erected by the United 
States Government. With the grounds attached it covers 
seven acres. Congress appropriated over J5 00,000 for the 
erection of the building and its exhibit. Here the various 
departments of the Government are illustrated — the War, 
the Navy, the Patent, the Treasury, the Interior, the Post 
Office, and the Smithsonian Institution, &c. The Patent 
Office Department exhibits the original Declaration of 
Independence, and some relics of Washington. The Camp- 
bell Press, elsewhere on the grounds, prints fac-similes of the 
Declaration. Then there is the Women's Pavilion, covering 
an acre of ground, and costing $30,000, exhibiting the 
invention, skill, art and industry of the women of the v/orld. 
Here is a $2,000 bonnet, made and presented by the ladies 
of New York. The principal of the other buildings are the 
Shoe and Leather, where one firm exhibits over 500 varieties 
ot shoes, and another all the styles from 1776 down to this 
present time, and where all the shoe men lift up as their 
mottoes, ''There is nothing like leather," "Keep pegging 



:i 



THE CENTENNIAL GROUNDS, &C. 



119 



away," " Stick to your last." Various other industries are 
represented by separate buildings, cither by the trade in 
general, or by individuals, as the Singer Sewing Machine, 

the Campbell Printing 
Press, &c., &c. Then 
there are the edifices 
erected by the various 
States and by Foreign 
Governments; some 
for the exhibition of 
goods, but mostly for 
the accommodation of 
its officers, and visiting 
citizens,and exhibitoro. 
There are three Eng- 
lish houses on the 
grounds especially 
worthy of observation. 
Various arrange- 
ments have been made 
for comfort, order, 
emergencies, &c., &c. 
There is a hospital, 
piesided over by com- 
petent physicians. 
There are several pub- 
lic comfort and cloak 
rooms. There is a fire 
department with a 
corps of men divided 
into three divisions, 
one of whom is con- 
stantly patrolmg. They have four steam engines on the 
grounds. There is a large police force, with seven stations, 
and a committing magistrate. There is a mail service, and 
a telegraph station, communicating with all parts of the 




I20 THE CENTENNIAL CITV. 

world. There is an office kept by Cook Sons & Jenkins 
where, from 125 feet in length of ticket boxes, tickets are 
sold to all parts of the world. 

Several restaurants and places of refreshment are scattered 
over the grounds and in the buildings. There are six regular 
large restaurants — French, German and American. There 
are several soda water fountains, a Vienna bakery, a New 
England kitchen, dairies — there or four segar shops, a 
fountain at the junction of Fountain and Belmont avenues, 
where ice water is dispensed, free, by the Temperance 



Statues and fountains adorn the grounds. There is" mfe 
statue of Columbus, and one erected to Religious Liberty. 
There is a fountain erected by the Catholic Total Abstinence 
Union, costing ;^5o,ooo, built of marble, with central rock 
work, surmounted by a statue of Moses, and having four 
fountains jutting out, each surmounted with a statue of some 
prominent temperance man of the communion — Father 
Matthew, Charles Carroll, Archbishop Carroll, and Com- 
modore Barry. Another fountain is that of Bartholdi, a 
French artist, in bronze, typifying light and water as twin 
goddesses of cities. This stands at the main entrance, 
between the main building and Machinery Hall. Immediately 
north of the latter building is a lake of five acres. 

The AVest End Passenger Railway Company have three 
and a half miles of track on the grounds. Over this, giving 
a fair view of all the buildings, they run their cars at the 
rate of eight miles an hour, for five cents a trip each passenger. 
They have thirty-six cars, each holding eighty passengers. 
There are three or four stations. It affords a pleasing and 
cheap trip, and is a great convenience. Another convenience 
is the rolling chairs, manipulated by a company. There are 
one hundred of them. They may be hired, with a driver, for 
sixty cents per hour, or $4.50 a day, or without a driver for 
$1.00 for three hours. Another convenience, which people 
may carry with them, is a cane and chair combined. It costs 



THE CENTENNIAL GROUNDS, &C. 



121 



^2.00, and weighs only twenty ounces. Catalogues of the 
contents of the several buildings are sold singly or combined 
on the grounds,, and will often be found a great convenience. 

There is a jury of 
awards, consisting of 
some 250 men, half of 
whom are foreigners. 
Their duty is to ex- 
amine and compare 
articles exhibited, and 
give a diploma or 
medal and a written 
report to those who 
show the most meri- 
toriously. For this 
service the foreign 
jurors are to receive 
§1,000 each, and the 
home jurors ^600. A 
large and fine pavilion 
has been erected for 
their accommodation. 

The articles on which 
the jury is to pass 
judgment have been 
arranged into twenty- 
eight groups : I. Min- 
erals, mining and 
metallurgy. 2. Pottery, 
glass, artificial stone, 
is:c. 3. Chemistry and 
p h a r m a c y, including 
the apparatus. 4. Ani- 
mal and vegetal;le products, and the machinery for their 
preparation. 5. Fish and fish products, and apparatus of 
fishing, &c. 6. Timber, worked lumber, parts of buildings, 

I 




122 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 

forestry. 7. Furniture, upholstery, woodenware, baskets, &c. 
8, Cotton, linen and other fabrics, nicluding materials and 
machinery. 9. Wool and silk fabrics, including materials 
and machinery. 10. Clothing, furs, India rubber goods, 
ornaments and fancy articles. 11. Jewelry, watches, silver- 
ware, bronzes, &c. 12. Leather and manufactures of leather. 

13. Paper industry, stationery, ]:)rinting and book making 

14. Apparatus of heating, lighting, ventilation, water supply 
and draining. 15. Builders' hardware, edge tools, cutlery, 
&c. 16. Military and sporting arms, weapons, apparatus of 
hunting, explosives, &c. 17. Carriages, vehicles and acces- 
sories. 18. Railway plans, rolling stock and apparatus, load 
engines, &c. 19. Vessels and apparatus of transportation. 

20. Motors, hydraulic and pneumatic apparatus, &c. 

21. Machine tools — wood, metal and stone. 22. Machines, 
apparatus and implements used in sewing and making 
clothing, lace, ornamental goods, pins, &c. 23, Agricultural, 
horticultural and gardening implements. 24. Instruments 
and apparatus of hygeine, surgery, medicine, prosthesis, &c. 
25. Inplements of precision, research, experiment and illus- 
tration, including topography and music. 26. Architecture 
and engineering. 27. Plastic and graphic art, sculpture. 
28. Education and science. A simpler general division of 
objects to be illustrated by the Exposition was Agriculture, 
Art, Education, Horticulture, Machinery, Manufactures, 
Mining and Science — seven in all. 

During the Exhibition there will be special days on the 
grounds, in the park and in the city, such as parades, society 
meetings, unveiling of statues, &c., regattas, the Fourth of 
July, &c. 

Admission to the grounds nas started at fifty cents, either 
in the form of one note or a silver half dollar. Nothing else 
is taken. A bank is on the grounds, and exchange offices at 
the several gates. There are thirteen general places of 
entrance, each of which has several sub-entrances, which can 
only be passed through in single file, a stile turning and 



THE CENTENNIAL GROUNDS, &C. I23 

registering, by electricity, the entrance. The grounds are 
open every day, except Sundays, from nine A. M. until six 
P. M. A change in all these points has been agitated, and 
will continue to be unless made. But this is the order, June 
15th. Fifty cents gives admission to all the buildings, and 
all the sights and sounds. 

In one day only a very general idea of the whole can be 
obtained. In four or five days a fair view may be accom- 
plished ; at least of those things that most interest. But 
months would not exhaust this show so as to leave nothing 
more to be seen or learned. 

Many of the articles exhibited can be bought, but with 
some exceptions they can not be removed till the close of 
the Exhibition. 

Around the grounds are numerous outside shows — as 
Operti's Garden, the Coliseum, Sawyer's Observatory, <S:c. 

From the foundation of the world probably there has been 
no such exhibition, one on so extended a scale, and so full. 
And never, perhaps, has the rounding up of a century been 
celebrated so elaborately, and by so numerous a people, and 
through so great a length of time. The events M^iich have 
called forth so grand a presentment are great, and worthy 
the study of mankind. The contrast which it creates between 
the Philadelphia of to-day and that of a hundred years ago 
is marvellous in its greatness and suddenness. The like will 
probably not be witnessed again by this generation. 

The effects of this Exhibition, it is reasonably expected, 
will be highly salutary; promoting liberal principles, the 
brotherhood of nations, the prosperity of the city of Phila- 
delphia, of the country at large, and of the whole world; 
furthering trade, manufactures, the arts, and general inter- 
course, and extending civilization and good government. 
The scenes and doings will be echoed through the newspapers 
everywhere, and in other ways. The nation, extending its 
hospitality to mankind, will receive their congratulations, and 
God will be praised for Avhat he has wrought. 



124 THE CENTENNIAL CITY. 



The following is a schedule of Fete Days on the Exposition 
Grounds, or in Philadelphia, during the show, so far as at 
present announced : 

Pomological Products and Vegetables exliibited. 
Knight Templars' Parade. 
Sons of Temperance Parade. 
Early Grass Butter and Cheese Exhil^it. 
Trial of Mowing Machines, &c. 
Early Summer Vegetables and Honey Exhibit. 
Raspberries and Blackberries Exhibit. 
Military Band Competitions. 
Patriotic Celebrations. 
Trial of Reapers. 

Southern Pomological Products Exhibit. 
Melon Exhibit. 
Horse Exhibit. 
Dog Exhibit, 
Peach Exhibit. 

Northern Pomological Exhibit. 
National Agricultural Congress Meeting. 
Autumn Vegetables Exhibit. 
4. Neat Cattle Exhibit. 
Cereal Exhibit, 

Potatoes and Feeding Roots Exhibit. | 

Grapes Exhibit. 
Sheep and Swine Exhibit. 
Autumn Butter and Cheese Exhibit. 
. I. Nuts, Autumn Honey and Wax Exhibit. 
6. Poultry Exhibit. 



May 


16-24. 


June 


I. 


•' 


12. 


" 


13-17- 


•* 


15-30. 


" 


20-24. 


July 


3- S. 


•' 


4-6. 




4-18. 


" 


5-15. 


" 


iS-22. 


Aug. 


22-26. 


Sept. 


I- 4. 


'•' 


I- S. 


" 


4- 9- 




11-16. 


" 


12-14. 


" 


19-23. 




2I-Oct. 


■• 


25-30. 


Oct. 


2- 7. 


" 


8-16. 


" 


lo-iS. 


" 


17-21. 


" 


23-Nov 


" 


27- " 



Besides the above, arrangements have feeen made for the 
delivery of addresses on the Exposition Grounds by com- 
petent and distinguished men ' from the various States. 
Statues, too, are to be unveiled. There are to be meetings, 
too, in the interest of college and general education. Regattas 
also are to be celebrated, &c., &c. Of all w^hich due and 
proper apprisal will be given in the newspapers. 



1 



APPENDIX. 



CHAPTER I. 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

Drafted atid Adopted by the Continental Congress in 
Philadelphia . 

WHEN, in the course of human events, it becomes 
necessary for one people to dissolve the political 
bands which have connected them with another, 
and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate 
and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's 
God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of man- 
kind requires that they should declare the causes which 
impel them to the separation. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are 
created equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with 
certain unalienable rights ; that among these are life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, 
governments are instituted among men, deriving their just 
powers from the consent of the governed ; that, whenever 
any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, 
it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to 
institute a new government, laying its foundation on such 
principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them 
shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. 
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long estab- 
lished, should not be changed for light and transient causes ; 
and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind 
are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than 



126 THE CENTENNIAL CITV APPENDIX. 

to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are 
accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpa- 
tions, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design 
to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it 
is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide 
new guards for their future security. Such has been the 
patient sufferance of these colonies, and such is now the 
necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems 
of government. The history of the present king of Great 
Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all 
having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute 
tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be sub- 
mitted to a candid world : 

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and 
necessary for the public good. 

He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate 
and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation 
till his assent should be obtained ; and, when so suspended, 
he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation 
of large districts of people ; unless those people would 
relinquish the right of representation in the legislature; a 
right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, 
uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public 
records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance 
with his measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for 
opposing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of 
the people. 

He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, to 
cause others to be eletecd; whereby the legislative powers, 
incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large 
for their exercise; the State remaining, in the meantime, 
exposed to all the danger of invasion from without, and 
convulsions within. 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 



T27 



He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these 
States ; for that purpose, obstructing the laws for naturaliza- 
tion of foreigners ; refusing to pass others to encourage their 
migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appro- 
priations of lands. 

He has obstructed the administration of justice by refusing 
his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the 
tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their 
salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither 
swarms of officers to harrass our people, and eat out their 
substance. 

He has kept among us, in tim.es of peace, standing armies, 
without the consent of our legislature. 

He has affected to render the military independent of, and 
superior to, the civil power. 

He has combined, with others, to subject us to a jurisdiction 
foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws ; 
giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation : 

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us : 

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment, for 
any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants 
of these States : 

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world : 

For imposing taxes on us without our consent : 

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by 
jury: 

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended 
offences : 

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neigh- 
boring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, 
and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once an 
example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute 
rule into these colonies ; 



128 THE CENTENNIAL CITY APPENDIX. 

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable 
laws," and altering, fundamentally, the powers of our govern- 
ments : 

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring them- 
selves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases 
whatsoever. 

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of 
his protection, and waging war against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our 
towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign 
mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and 
tyranny, already begun, with circumstances of cruelty and 
perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and 
totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation. 

He has constrained our fellow citizens, taken captive on 
the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become 
the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall 
themselves by their hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and 
has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, 
the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is 
an undistinguished destruction, of all ages, sexes, and con- 
ditions. 

In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for 
redress, in the most humble terms ; our repeated petitions 
have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, 
Avhose character is thus marked by every act which may 
define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. 

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British 
brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of 
attemps made by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable 
jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circum- 
stances of our emigration and settlement here. We have 
appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we 
have conjured . them by ties of our common kindred, to 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. I29 

disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt 
our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been 
deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity. We must, 
therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our 
separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, 
enemies in war, in peace, friends. 

We, therefore, the representatives of the UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS 
assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for 
the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the 
authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly 
publish and declare, that these United colonies are, and of 
right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT 
STATES J that they are absolved from all allegiance to the 
British crown, and that all political connexion between them 
and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally 
dissolved ; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT 
STATES, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, 
contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts 
and things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of 
right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm 
reliance on the protection of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, 
we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and 
our sacred honor. 

The foregoing Declaration was, by order of Congress, 
engrossed, and signed by the following members : 

^ JOHN HANCOCK. 

New Hampshire. Massachusetts Bay, 

Josiah Bartlett, Samuel Adams, 

William Whipple, John Adams, 

Matthew Thornton. Robert Treat Payne, 

Elbridge Gerry, 
Rhode Island. Delaware 

Stephen Hopkins, Caesar Rodney, 

William Ellery. George Read, 

Thomas M'Kean. 



130 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY APPENDIX. 



Connecticut. 

Roger Sherman, 
Samuel Huntington, 
William Williams, 
Oliver Wolcott. 

Neiu York. 

William Floyd, 
Philip Livingston, 
Francis Lewis, 
Lewis Morris. 

New Jersey. 

Richard Stockton, 
John Witherspoon, 
Francis Hopkinson, 
John Hart, 
Abraham Clark. 

Pennsylvania. 

Robert Morris, 
Benjamin Rush, 
Benjamin Franklin, 
John Morton, 
George Clymer, 
James Smith, 
George Taylor, 
James Wilson, 
George Ross. 



Maryland. 

Samuel Chase, 

William Paca, 

Thomas Stone, 

Charles Carroll, of Carroliton. 

Virginia. 

George Wythe, 
Richard Henry Lee, 
Thomas Jefferson, 
Benjamin Harrison, 
Thomas Nelson, jun., 
Francis Lightfoot Lee, 
Carter Braxton. 

North Carolina. 

William Hooper, 
John Hews, 
John Penn, 

South Carolina. 

Edward Rutledge, 
Thomas Hey ward, jun., 
Thomas Lynch, jun., 
Arthur Middleton. 

Georgia. 

Button Gwinnett, 
Lyman Hall, 
George Walton. 



Resolved., That copies of the Declaration be sent to the 
several assemblies, conventions and committees, or councils 
of safety, and to the several commanding officers of the 
continental troops ; that it be proclaimed in each of the 
United States, and at the head of the army. 



Done at Philadelphia., Thursday., July /\th, 1776. 



CHAPTER II. 
Abstract of Washington's Farewell Address. 

Washington's Farewell Address was issued from 
Philadelphia, as he was about closing his second 
term of the Presidency. It contains matter always 
important to the citizen ; and this centennial year may well 
be pondered more deeply than ever. For those who have 
not the leisure or inclination to read it entire, we give the 
follov/ing abstract : 

The address is begun by its author declining to be a 
candidate for a third term of the Presidency of the United 
States. This declination, he conceived to be, at that time, 
his duty, and consistent with patriotism. He had wished 
for retirement before allowing himself to be named even for 
a second term. But he had yielded then to what seemed to be 
the requirements of his country. The need for him that 
might then have existed had now however disappeared. 
And he might, with honor to himself, and safety to his 
country, resume his place as a private citizen. Gratitude is 
expressed for the support he had received from the people ; 
and a prayer is breathed for their success. Diffidence in 
his own abilities, and as to what his course had been is 
manifested, and oblivion for errors is asked. 

Some parting words of advice to be considered and 
" FREQUENTLY REVIEWED " is, after this introduction, given. 
Love of liberty he urges to maintain. But in order to liberty 
and prosperity, he counsels unity of Government. These 
were reasons for maintaining unity, appealing both to their 
sensibility and to their interest. The name American was 
honorable, and should be cherished by them. North and 
South, East and West should be bound together as one 
whole. Such a union would prove the main prop of their 
liberty. It would be a defense against foreign foes and 
internal broils, and prevent the necessity of a standinfy army. 



132 THE CENTENNIAL CTTV APPENDIX. 

Such a Government for the whole country, eschewing 
geographical distinctions, he declares to be possible, and 
indispensable as against mere alliances of the several parts. 

The Constitution, he next urges, should be maintained as 
a sacred instrument. Combinations against it ought to be 
shunned by persons claiming to be patriots. Any attempt 
to undermine it, and impair its energy, is to be avoided. 
Time to prove its value and utility was requisite. Party 
spirit was a natural spirit ; but against it he urges effort to be 
made. A despotism itself, — of a portion of the people, perhaps 
of a minority, — it would end in a one man despotism. It 
distracts and enfeebles government. Avoidance of encroach- 
ments of one department on the domain of another, and of 
all usurpation of power, is enjoined. 

The importance of religion and of morality in building up a 
State is next set forth. Public opinion needs their enlighten- 
ment. National credit is to be carefully maintained. Good 
faith and justice towards all nations is to be observed. 
Fondness for one people and hatred of another is to be 
avoided. An impartial guard is to be set against the wiles 
of foreign influence. Foreign entanglements should be 
discountenanced. Europe has her own interests in which 
we are not concerned. Our distance makes neutrality 
possible. Any permanent alliance with a foreign people is 
to be declined. Harmony and a liberal intercourse is to be 
cultivated. In commercial intercouse, as well as in political, 
impartiality is most prudent. Let no exclusive favors be 
either asked or sfranted. 

o 

These words, adds the retiring Father of his Country, you 
may not heed. But he had thought it an expres.sion of 
patriotism to urge them. He himself had, as the public 
records showed, been guided by these principles. Neutrality 
in the then European war — September, 1796 — had been 
successfully maintained through three years. Soon, with 
such a policy, the country might dictate. 

AVith these counsels, and again craving indulgence for, 
and forgiveness of, his errors, he now welcomed retirement. 



CHAPTER III. 
Hail Columbia."^ 



Hail Columbia ! happy land ' hail ye heroes ! heaven born band ! 

Who fought, and bled, in freedom's cause. 

Who fought, and bled, in freedom's cause. 
And when the storm of war was gone, enjoyed the peace your valor won. 
Let independence be our boast, ever mindful what it cost ; 
Ever grateful for the prize, let its altar reach the skies. 

Chorus. 

Firm united let us be., rallying round our liberty ; 

As a band of brothers joined, peace and safety we shall find. 



Immortal patriots rise once more, defend your rights, defend your shore. 

Let no rude foe, with impious hand, 

Let no rude foe, with impious hand. 
Invade the home where sacred lies, of toil and blood, the well earned prize. 
While offering peace sincere and just, in heaven we place a manly trust, 
That truth and justice will prevail, and every scheme of bondage fail. 

3- 

Sound, sound the trump of fame ! let Washington's great name, 

Ring through the world with loud applause ; 

Ring through the world with loud applause ; 
Let every clime to freedom dear, listen wish a joyful ear. 
With equal skill and godlike power, he govern'd in the fearful hour 
Of horrid war ; or guides, with ease, the happier times of honest peace 

* Written by a Philadelphian, son of a signer of the Declaration. 



1 



CHAPTER IV. 
Heads of Government. 



Ulvsses S. Grant. 



UNITED STATES. 
President^ ------ 

Vice-Preside7it^ - - - - 

Secretary of State, ----- Hamilton Fish. 
Secretary of Treasury, _ _ _ _ Lot Morrill. 

Secretary of War, - _ - _ Donald Cameron. 
Secretary of Naiy, - - - George M. Robeson. 

Secretary of Interior, - . - - Zachariah Chandler. 

Posti7iaster General, - - " - Marshall Jewell. 

Attorney General, - - - _ Ceorge H. Williams. 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



Governor, . - - 

Lieutena7tt-Governor, - 
Auditor General, 
Secretary of Internal Affairs^ 
Treasurer, - - - 
Attorney General, 
Secretary, _ _ _ 



John F. Hartranft. 

John Latta. 

Justus F. Temple. 

William McCandless. 

Henry Rawle. 

- George Lear. 

- M. S. Quay. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



Mayor, 

Recorder, 

Comptroller, 

Treasurer, 

Solicitor, 

Receiver of Taxes, 

Commissoners, - 



Wm. S. Stokeley. 

James Given. 

Samuel P. Hancock. 

Peter A. B. Widener. 

Charles H. T. Collis. 

Thomas J. Smidi. 

i J. S. Wetten, 

\ David Martin, 

( Thomas A. Fahy. 



CHAPTER V. 



Places of Amusement and of General Interest.* 



Academy of ¥me Arts, - . _ . Ikoad and Cherr}', 25 cents 
Academy of Music, - - - - - - Broad and Locust. 

Academy of Natural Sciences, - - Race and Nineteenth, 25 cents. 

Alhambra Theatre, Music Hall and Garden, - Broad, near Spruce. 

Ahiishouse, . . - . Blockley. Tickets. 42 North Seventh. 
American Philosophical Society, _ _ _ Fifth, near ChestnuL 

American Sunday School Union, - - - - 11 22 Chestnut. 

American Tract Society, _ . . _ . 140S Chestnut. 

Arsenal, Schuylkill, --.__. Gray's Ferry Road. 

Arsenal, Frankford, ^ ------ - Frankford. 

Baptist Publication Society. - . . . Walnut, near Broad 

Blind Asylum. 20th and Race, Concerts Wednesday Afternoons, 15 cts. 
Board of Brokers ..-.-- Third,Walnut-and Dock, 
Carpenters' Hall, . . - . . Chestnut, near Fourth. 

Centennial Exposition, - - - - West Faimiount Park. 

Chestnut Street Theatre, - . . - Chestnut, near Twelfth. 

Christ Church, Second, near Market. 

Coliseum, -.--._-. Broad, near Walnut. 

Commercial Exchange, ----- Second, near Chestnut. 

Concert Hall, ---_.. Chestnut, near Twelfth. 

Custom House, -_-.__ Chestnut, near I'ourth. 

Deaf and Dumb Asylum, - Broad and Pine. Exhib. Thursday After'ns. 

Eastern Penitentiary — Bridewell, Fairmount av., near 22d. Tickets. 

Eleventh Street Opera House, - Eleventh, near Chestnut. Minstrels. 

Fairmount Park, - - - - East and West of the Schuylkill. 

Fox's American Theatre, ----- Chestnut, near Tenth. 

Franklin's Grave, ------- Arch and Fifth. 

Franklin Institute, ----- Seventh, near Chestnut. 

Girard College, _ - - - Ridge avenue, near 19th. Tickets. 

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, ----- S20 Spruce. 

Flome for Friendless Children, - 23d and Brown. '* The Northern." 

House of Correction, - - Holmesburg. Cars from Kensington. 

House of Refuge. - - 22d and Brown. 

Independence Hall, Chestnut, bet. Fifth and Sixth. Tickets to Steeple. 

Insane Asylum, ------ Frankford. " Friends." 



136 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY APPENDIX. 



Tickets. 



llaverford Road. 

Ridire avenue. 



Kirkbride, (Insane Asylum,) - 

Laurel Hill Cemeteiy, - - - - - - -^ 

Ledger Building, ------ Sixth and Chestnut. 

Letitia House, Letitia Court, near Market and Second. House of Penn. 



Little Wanderer's Home, 
London Coffee House, 
Masonic Temple, 
Mayor's Office, 
Merchant's Exchange, 
Mint, - - - . 
Monument Cemetery, 



Bainbridge, near Eighth. 

S. W. Front and Market. Ante Rev, Relic. 

Broad and Filbert. Tickets. 

- - - - Fifth and Chestnut. 

Second, near Chestnut. 

Chestnut, near Thirteenth. 

Broad, near Berks. 



Moyamensing, Eleventh and Passyunk Road. County Prison. Tickets. 
Museum, - - - - "" - - - Arch and Ninth. 
Naval Asylum, - - - Gray's Ferry Road. United States. 

Navy Yard, . - _ - League Island, foot of South BroacL 

Operti's Tropical Garden and Opera House, - - Belmont avenue. 
Pennsylvania Hospital, - - Spruce and Pine, Eighth and Ninth. 

Philadelphia Dispensary, - 127 South Fifth. Oldest in the Country. 

Philadelphia Library, - - - - - Fifth, near Chestnut. 

Post Office, Chestnut, near Fifth. 

Presbyterian Board of Publication, - . - - 133^ Chestnut. 
Public Buildings, - - - - - - - Broad and Market. 



Sawyer's Observatory, 
^School of Design for "Women, 
Siege of Paris, - - - - 
Simmons & Slocum's Opera House, 



- Belmont. Night and Day. 

Penn Square, N. W. Corner. 

Girard avenue, near Exposition. 

Arch, near Tenth. 



Swedes Church, - - Swansen, near Christian. Oldest in the City. 
Treaty Tree, or Monument, - - - - Beach, near Hanover. 

University of Pennsylvania, - - - Darby Road and 36th. 

Wagner's Free Institute of Science, - Sixteenth and Montgomery avenue. 
Water Works, - - - - - . - - East Fairmount Park. 

Will's Eye Hospital, ----- Race, near Eighteenth. 

Women's Centennial Music Hall, - - - Broad and Master. 

Woodland Cemetery, ------- Darby Road. 

Young Men's Christian Association, Corner of Chestnut and Fifteenth. 
Zoological Gardens, ----- West Fairmount Park. 



* For way to above places, price of admission, where not free, and time when open, 
consult Appendixes 8 and ii, on Horse Cars and Streets ; also body of the work, and 
daily city papers. When free tickets are required, apply at the Ledger office. The 
above are principal places, but new places of entertainment are continually springing up, 
for which see daily papers. 



CHAPTER A'l. 



Steam Railroads in and out of Philadelphia. 



PENNSYLVANIA CENTRAL. 



Philadelphia — 34th Street, or Lancaster 
Avenue and Market. 

Miles. 

Bryn Manor 9 

Malvern 21 

Glen Loch 25 

Dunnington 32 

Coatesville 38 

Poineroy 42 

Parkerburg 44 

Lancaster 69 

Dillerville 70 

Landisville 76 

Mount Joy 80 

Elizabethtown 87 

Middletown g6 

Harrisburg I05 

Rockwell Ill 

Maryville 113 

Duncannon 120 

Newport 133 

Mifflin 154 

Lewistown 166 

Huntingdon 203 

Tyrone 223 

Bell's Mills 230 

Altoona ,237 

Gallitzin 249 



Miles. 

Crepon 252 

Wilmore 2^2 

Conemaugh 273 

Johnstown 27S 

Blairsville Intersection 300 

Latrobe 3^3 ' 

Greensburg 323 

Penn Manor .328 

Irwin's 332 

Brinton's 342 

Wilkinsburg 347 

Pittsburg 354 



Market Street cars, and Walnut and 
Chestnut, to or from depot in Philadel- 
phia. Fare, 7 cents; children 4 cents; 
four tickets, 25 cents. Market Street 
cars or anj'' cross line between loth and 
19th Street, by exchange ticket, fare g 
cents. Market and Walnut and Chestnut 
Street cars to Exposition. Also, cars of 
above road. 



PHILADELPHIA, WILMINGTON AND BALTIMOEE. 



Philadelphia — Broad and Washington 
Avenue. 

Miles. 

Gray's Ferry 2 

Chester 14^ 

Lamokin 16^ 

Thurlow t6 

Linwood.... 18 

Wilmington 28 

Newport 32 

Newark 40 

Elkton 46 

North East 52 

Parryville 61 

Havre de Grace 62 

Edgewood 77 

Bay View 94 

Baltimore q8 



Union line of cars, to and from the 
depot in Philadelphia. Fare, 7 cents. 
Also 13th and 15th Street same fare. And 
for 9 cents, any road between I^mbard 
and Vine, connecting with 13th a:id 15th. 
Cars run over above road from Market to 
32d Street. The Philadelphia and Balti- 
more Central runs from same depot in 
Philadelphia, branching off at I>amokin, 
and running on an independent track to 
Port Deposit, 57 miles. 



138 



THE CENTENNIAL CITY APPENDIX. 



PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YOSK 



Philadelphia— Pa. Depot. 



Mile 



Germantown Junction 5 

Bristol 23 

Trenton 33 

Princeton Junctoin 43 

Monmouth Junction 49 

New P>runswick 59 

Rahway 71 

Elizabeth 76 

Newark 81 

Jersey City 89 

New York 90 



Horse cars, as indicated in connection 
with Pennsylvania road. Cars run to the 
Exposition, connecting with the same 
track. Cars also run from Kensington 
depot, Front and Berks; to and from 
which run horse cars of Union line, 5th 
and 6th Streets, and white cars of 2d and 
3d Streets. Distance from Kensington to 
Trenton is five miles less than from West 
Philadelphia. 



NORTH PENNSYLVANIA EOAD. 



Philadelphia — Berks and American. 

iMiles. 

York Road 7 

Abington 10 

Fort Washington 14 

North Wales 20 

Lansdale 22 

Sellersville • • • 31 

Quakertown 38 

Coopersburg 44 

Hellertown 50 

Bethlehem 55 



5th and 6th Street cars, and green cars 
of the 2d and 3d Street line run to and 
from the depot in Philadelphia. From 
same depot runs the new through road to 
New York, byway of Jenkintown; Yard- 
leyville, Hopewell, Boundbrook and Eliz- 
abeth, to the depot, in New York, of the 
New Jersey Central. 



PHILADELPHIA AND EEADING. 



Philadelphia — 13th and Callowhill. 

Miles. 

Belmont 4 

West Manyunk 8 

Conshohocken 14 

Bridgeport 17 

Port Kennedy 22 

Valley Forge. 24 

Perkiomen Junction 25 

Phoenixville 28 

Pottstown 40 

Mo-.iocacy 48 

Bird sboro 49 

Reading , 58 

Mohrsville 60 

Port Clinton 78 

y\ubtjrn 83 

Schuylkill Haven 89 

Pottsville 93 



Cars on Callowhill and 13th and 15th 
Streets, Philadelphia, run direct to and 
from the depot. Exchange tickets may 
be obtained for Callowhill and any of the 
cross lines, except the Union line. 

The Germantown and Norristown roads 
are now operated by the Reading as a 
branch. Depot in Philadelphia, gth and 
Greene. Horse cars to it, Union line and 
both lines up 8th Street. Cars of above 
road run to Centennial grounds. 



WEST CHESTER AND PHILADELPHIA^ 



Philadelphia — 31st and Chestnut. 

Miles. 

Kellysville 6 

Spring Hill 9 

Swarthmore 11 

Media 14 

B. C. Junction 19 



West Chester. 



Miles. 
....27 



Horse cars same as those of Pennsylva- 
nia depot. 



STEAM RAILROADS, &:C. 

PHILADELPHIA AND AMEOY. 



139 



Philadelphia— Market Street Feriy. 

Miles. 

Camden i 

Riverton 9 

Riverside 12 

Delanco 13 

Beverly 15 

Burlington 39 

Florence 26 

Bordentown 28 

Newtown 35 



Miles. 

Hightstown . . . .41 

Cranbury 44 

Jamesburg 48 

Spottswood 52 

South Amboy 62 

Horse cars — Market Street and cross 
Hnes. Cars run over part of same road to 
Trenton and New York. 



WEST JEESEY EAILROAD. 



Philadelphia — Market Street Ferry. 

Miles. 

Camden i 

Gloucester 4 

Woodburg 8 

Wenonah 11 

Pitman 16 

Glassboro 18 

Clayton 21 

Franklinville 24 

Maiesa 28 



Miles. 

Vineland 34 

MillviUe 40 

Mauntauken 46 

Woodbine 54 

Seaville 62 

Cape May C. H 69 

Cape May 81 



Philadelphia and 



Horse cars same a; 
Amboj'. 



CAMDEN AND ATLANTIO KAILEOAD. 



Philadelphia — Vine Street Ferry. 

Miles. 

Camden i 

Haddonfield 7 

Berlin 17 

Atco 19 

Winslnw 27 

Hammoniou 30 



Egg Harbor 

Nay's Landing . , 

Abseem 

Atlantic City 



Horse cars — Race, Vine and 



Miles 



ross lines. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Horse Cars. 

-| P and down Market street, from Front to Forty-first 

I J street, passing Bingham House, Public Buildings, 

Masonic Temple, Westchester and Pennsylvania Rail 

Road Depots, running near to Kirkbride, and branching 

off to the Exposition and Haddington. 

Up and down Arch street, from Second to Twenty-first 
streets, and on to West Philadelphia, to the Exposition, to the 
Zoological Gardens, passing St. Elmo and St. Cloud Hotels, 
Arch Street Theater, Museum, &c., and Water Works. A 
branch turns up Ninth and runs over Ridge avenue to 
Twenty-second street, then to Manyunk, passing Girard 
College, Strawberry Hill, Laurel Hill and old battle grounds 
of Germantown. Gives passes. Gives two tickets over the 
road, and one for the Zoological Gardens, for thirty cents. 

Race and Vine streets, from Second and Walnut, up Vine 
to Lancaster avenue, Hestonville, the Park and Exposition, 
passing the Water Works, taking up and setting down passen- 
gers, with passes for and from the Zoological Gardens, selling 
tickets for the gardens like the Arch street line ; returning 
back by Race, passing Blind Asylum, Cathedral, Will's Eye 
Infirmary and the Academy of Sciences. 

Vine and Callowhill streets, from Second up Vine to 
Water Works and back by Callowhill, running near Reading 
Rail Road Depot. 

Chestnut and Walnut streets, from Front up Walnut to 
Forty-second street and back by Chestnut, running by branch 
line over Lancaster avenue to the West Park and Exj^osition ; 
running by or near Hotels and places of amusement and 
interest, on Chestnut, Walnut, Broad and intermediate streets; 
the Pennsylvania and Westchester Depots, running by another 
branch over the Darby road, by the University of Pennsylvania, 
the Alms House and Woodland Cemetery. 



HORSE CARS. 



141 



Spruce a:-d Pine, from Dock and Second up Pine to 
Twenty-third street, to Grey's Ferry, and to Waterworks, 
passing Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and Naval Asylum and 
Arsenal. 

Lombard and South, from Delaware avenue and Dock street, 
up South to Twenty-fifth street, and back b.y Lombard, 
passing Naval Asylum and the Arsenal. 

Second and Third, from Frankford avenue down Second to 
Mifi^in, and return by Third street, running by Swede's 
Church on the south, and Kensington Depot on the north by 
white cars, and Pennsylvania Depot by green cars, and by 
branches to Frankford, where is the Friends' Insane Asylum, 
and Bridesburg, where is the Arsenal, and to Richmond, where 
are the coal, lumber, and ship wharves. 

Fourth and Eighth, from Dauphin down Fourth to Dick- 
inson, and back by Eighth, connecting with Germantown and 
Girard avenue cars, which run by Girard College and to the 
Zoological Garden, running also over Green and Coates 
streets to P'airmount avenue entrance to the Park, passing 
Germantown and Morristown Depot; each alternate car run- 
ning only to Walnut street. 

Fifth and Sixth, from Kensington avenue and Cumberland 
street down Fifth to Mifflin, and back by Sixth, running to 
North Pennsylvania Depot, and connecting by steam cars 
with Frankford. 

Seventh and Ninth, from Park entrance at foot of Brown 
street to old Navy Yard, and to Baltimore Depot, connecting 
with Richmond, Columbia avenue, Spring Garden and Pop- 
lar and Cedar and Christian street branches. 

Tenth and Eleventh, from Montgomery avenue down Tenth 
to Reid, and back by Eleventh, having a branch to Mifflin 
street which passes Moyamensing. 

Twelth and Sixteenth, from Montgomery avenue down 
Twelfth to Wharton and back by Sixteenth. 

Thirteenth and Fifteenth, from Columbia avenue down 
Thirteenth to Carpenter and back by Fifteentli, passing the 



142 THE CENTENNIAL CITY APPENDIX. 

Baltimore, and the Reading Rail Road Depots, and having 
continuations on Broad street at each end of the route. 

Seventeenth and Nineteenth, from Columbia avenue down 
Seventeenth to Carpenter, and back by Nineteenth. 

There are six lines run to the West Park and Exposition, 
six to the East Park, three to the Zoological Gardens, one to 
Haddington, one to Darby, one to Manyunk, one to German- 
town, one to Richmond, three to or near by Baltimore, two 
to the Westchester and Pennsylvania, two to the Reading, 
four to the Germantown and Norristown, three to North 
Pennsylvania and two to Kensington Depots. 

Single tickets on all the horse cars are seven cents for 
adults and four cents for children. Four tickets are sold for 
twenty-five cents. An exchange ticket, entitling the holder 
to ride not only in the car he is in, but also that day in any 
one of certain specified cross cars, is given for nine cents. 
Night tickets are ten cents each. Some lines have branches 
over which they give a pass without additional pay. Lines 
east and west between Lombard and Vine, and lines north 
and south between Eleventh and Ninteenth streets, exchange. 

The cars of most lines run generally from six o'clock in 
the morning, to near midnight. After that, infrequently, till 
morning again. 

Passengers get into the cars and the conductor comes and 
collects the fare, on most roads. On some roads, however, 
the exact fare is placed in an envelope, Vv4-iich the passenger 
is required to place in a box on entering. 



CHAPTER VII!. 



Hotels in Philadelphia. 



'i'HE Ol.D CITY. 



American House, $3 to $3.50, 

Bingham 

Colonnade Hotel, $4.50 and up 

Continental " 

Girard House, $4 and u^), 

Guy's Hotel, European, 

Irving House, 

La Pierre Plouse, $4 and up, 

Markoe, " . - . 

Merchant's Hotel, $3 and up, 



Cliestnut St., bet. 5lh and 6th. 
INIarket St., corner nth. 



'■ 15th, 
(jth. 

and loth. 



St. Charles, ' 
St. Cloud 
St. Elmo 
St. George's ' 
St. Laurence ' 
St. Stephen's ' 
United States' 



European, 
$3 and up. 



- Chestnut St., 
Chestnut St., 

- Chestnut St., 
Chestnut St., 

- AValnut St., bet. 9th 

Proad Street, near Cliestnut. 

- Chestnut, near 9th, 

4lh St., bet. Market and Chestnut. 

Arch, 

Arch St., bet. 7th and 8th. 

Arch St., " 3d and 4th. 

Broad St., corner Walnut. 

- Chestnut St., near loth. 



3^1 St., 



WKST I'HILADKT.l'HlA. 



7th. 



Atlas Hotel, 

Aubrey House, Kuropea.n. 

Clifford ■' 

Centennial Home, 

Channing House, 

Globe Hotel, $5, - 

Granger's Camp, European, 

Grand Exposition, 

Trans Continental, ?5, 

United States Hotel, 

Westminster, 

The above are a few 
are numerous others. 
and well established. 



- Elm Av., near Exposition. 

- - - Walnut St., bet. 33d and 34th. 

Lancaster Av. and 40th. 

Lancaster and Fairmount Aves, 

Pine St., 39th and 40th. 

- ]5elmont Av., near Exposition. 

- - - 7 miles out, on Pa. R. R. 
- - - Elm and Girard Aves. 

- - - Elm and Belmont Aves. 
- - - - Near Exposition Grounds. 

- Westmiii^ier and Belmont Aves. 

of the Hotels of Philadeli^hia. There 
Those in the Old City are mostly long 
Thev are all situated between Arch 



144 THE CENTENNIAL CITY APPENDIX. 

and Walnut, Third and Fifteenth streets. Those in West 
Philadelphia are mostly new, gotten up for the Exposition, 
and are more liable to changes and abandonment. Among 
these the Globe and Trans-Continental and the Aubrey 
House, are exceptionally first-class. The Trans-Continental 
is a branch of the Continental of the Old City. The former 
two are across the street only, from the main southern en- 
trance to the Exposition grounds. The latter can be readily 
reached by Horse cars, and is near the Pa. R. R. Depot. 

For those who tarry, and seek quiet or economy, the Cen- 
tennial Lodging House Agency, having offices at 1024 
Walnut street, and at the principal depots, and having agents 
on incoming trains, affords excellent facilities. They furnish 
lodgings for $1.25, and supper, lodgings and breakfast for 
$2.50, in all parts of both the Old and New City. 

The papers show other hotels and private boarding houses. 
But before engaging rooms or board, parties ought to know 
in all cases the character, location and charges of the places 
where they think of staying. 



CHAPTER IX. 
Legal Fares of Hacks, &c. 

ONE passenger, one mile, seventy-five cents; two passen- 
gers same distance, $1.25 ; each additional passenger, 
same distance, twenty-five cents more. 

One passenger, over a mile and not exceeding two miles, 
$1.25 ; two passengers same distance, $1.75 ; each additional 
passenger same distance, twenty-five cents more. 

Over two miles, each additional mile or part of mile, fifty 
cents ; additional to the charge for the party, for two miles. 
But when the distance is over four miles, each passenger shall 
pay fifteen cents additional for a mile or part of a mile. 

By the hour, $1.50, for one or two passengers; each addi- 
tional passenger twenty-five cents. Passengers may stop as 
often as required. 

Each passenger is allowed one trunk, valise, carpet bag or 
box, not exceeding one hundred pounds in weight. For 
every additional article six cents. 

Hackmen charge by mile in absence of other agreement. 
If when driven by the mile, a passenger shall detain the 
hack, the hackman may charge at the rate of seventy-five 
cents an hour additional for the time oi detention. 

Twelve blocks of one hundred numbers are considered a 
mile. 

Each hack contains inside a card with number, name and 
residence of the owner. Disputes arising between driver and 
passenger, are settled by the Mayor or Chief of Police, at 
Fifth and Chestnut. When the law has been violated, or an 
attempt at it made, hackmen are not entitled to receive fare, 
or they will on complaint, be deprived of their license. 

Children between five and fourteen are charged half price. 
Under five years old, one to every two grown passengers is 
allowed free. 



CHAPTER X. 

Names of the Principal Streets running from 
East to West. 



NORTH OF MARKET. 

I Market, Filbert, Con 
merce, Church. 
loo Arch, Cherry.' 



SOUTH OF MARKET. 

I Market, Jayne, Mer- 
chant, Minor, 
loo Chestnut, Sansom, Li- 
brary, Dock. 



200 Race, Branch, New. 


200 


Walnut, Locust. 


300 Vine, Wood. 


300 


Spruce, Union. 


400 Cailowhili, Willow, No- 


400 


Pine. 


ble, Margaretta. 






500 B.uttonwood, Spring, 


500 


Lombard, Gaskill. 


Garden. 






600 Greene, Mount Vernon, 


600 


South. 


Wallace, Mellon. 






700 Fairmount Ave., Olive. 


700 


Bainbridge, Monroe. 
Fitzwater, German. 


800 Brown, Parrish, Ogden. 


800 


Catharine, Queen. 


900 Poplar, Laurel. 


900 


Christian, Marriott, 


1000 Beaver or Otter. 


1000 


Carpenter. 


1 100 George. 


1100 


Washington, Ellsworth 


t2oo Girard Ave., Stiles. 


1200 


Federal, Marion. 


1300 Thompson, Seybert. 


1300 


A\'harton. 


14C0 Master. 


1400 


Reed. 


1500 Jefferson. 


1500 


Dickinson, (Treenwi( h. 


t6oo Oxford. 


1600 


Tasker. 


1700 Columbia Ave. 


1700 


Morris, Pierce. 


1800 Montgomery Ave. 


1800 


Moore, Siegel. 


1900 Berks. 


1900 


Mifflin. 


2000 Norris, Otis. 


2000 


McKean. 


2100 Diamond, 


2100 


Snvder, 



PRINCIPAL STREETS, FROM EAST TO WEST. 



147 



2200 Susquehannah. 


2200 


Jackson. 


2300 Dauphin, 


2300 


Wolf. 


2400 York. 


2400 


Ritner. 


2500 Cumberland. 


2500 


Porter. 


2600 Huntington, 


2600 


Skunk. 


2700 Lehigh Avenue. 


2700 


Oregon Avenue. 


2800 Somerset. 


2800 


Johnson. 


2900 Cambria. 


2900 


Bigler. 


3000 Indiana. 


3000 


PoUock. 


3100 Clearfield. 


3100 


Packer. 


3200 Allegheny. 


3200 


Curtin, 


3300 Westmoreland. 


33<^^ 


Geary. 


3400 Ontario. 


3400 


Thirty-fourth Avenue 


3500 Tioga. 


3500 


Thirty-fifth 


3600 Venango. 


3600 


Thirty- sixth 


3700 Erie. 


3700 


Thirty-seventh " 


3800 Butler. 


3800 


Thirty-eighth " 


3900 Pike. 


3900 


Thirty-ninth " 


4000 Luzerne. 


4000 


Fortieth " 



One hundred numbers are allowed to every block. Each 
block, therefore, begins with a new hundred. The even 
numbers are on the south and west sides ; the odd numbers 
on the north and east. The streets rmming north and south 
are numbered from Second to Seventy-second, and begin each 
way from Market street, and are designated as North Second, 
South Second, and so on. The numbers of the east and west 
streets, commence at the Delaware. 



James Rice. Jr.. 

(Formerly Avith Messrs. Starr & Marcus.) 

• DIAMONDS 

A SPECIALTY. 



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PURCHASED ON COMMISSION. 



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OOERODEES AHD MANUFACTURERS OF 

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128 PEARL STREET, NEW YORK. 



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Insurance Company, 




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GEORGE C. RIPLEY, President. 



All desirable forms of Life Policies issued, including the 

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NO RESTRICTIONS ON RESIDENCE OR TRAVEL. 
DIVIDENDS PAYABLE ANNUALLY. 



WM. J.- COFFIN, Secretary and Actuary. 

I. H. FROTHINGHAM, Treasurer. 



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Importers and Wholesale Dealers in 

IRISH LINEN 



AND OTHER 



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OFFICE AND SALESROOM : FACTORY : 

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CENTENNIAL CITY," Published by C. A. Coffin, 88 John Street, New York. 



CENTENARY HISTORY 



OIE^, 



100 Years of American Independence. 

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